The trust paradox: Balancing security and autonomy with decentralised digital IDs

By Affinidi

Affinidi’s CEO, Glenn Gore, says that security and autonomy are not necessarily a trade-off, as governments increasingly adopt decentralised tech stacks and open standards to foster collaborative innovation.

Adopting decentralised ID frameworks can foster greater trust between governments and citizens, where returning data-sharing control to individuals demonstrates a tangible commitment to privacy while enhancing security, public engagement and ultimately confidence. Image: Affinidi

For a while, it seemed as though personal information, such as one’s shopping history with Amazon and social media history with Meta, X, TikTok, and other platforms, was scattered and owned by Big Tech.

According to Affinidi’s CEO, Glenn Gore, the growing importance of data ownership in our digital world centres on empowering citizens and businesses to control how their data is shared.

The growing importance of data ownership in our digital world centres on empowering citizens and businesses to control how their data is shared, said Affinidi’s CEO, Glenn Gore. Image: Gore's LinkedIn

While Affinidi's mission has always centred on returning rightful data ownership to individuals, he noted this work uncovered growing government interest in more comprehensive decentralised technologies as foundations for national digital identity systems.

“This insight prompted us to develop a comprehensive technological framework that authenticates, stores and manages data whilst enabling consent-based sharing - creating a complete ecosystem for digital identity management," he said to GovInsider.

The fragmentation of personal data across an average of more 150+ online accounts per individual impacts data accuracy and consistency.

He noted that this fragmentation becomes especially problematic for governments relying on accurate citizen information.

Affinidi addresses this challenge by enabling individuals to consolidate fragmented data in secure digital vaults, facilitating consent-based exchanges through decentralised infrastructures that enhance security and transparency.

“By solving this fundamental challenge, Affinidi provides critical infrastructure that supports government initiatives toward more coherent digital identity management whilst returning control to citizens,” he said.

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Empowering both citizens and governments

While typically associated with individual empowerment, digital identities offer significant transformative advantages for public sector operations.

“Beyond efficiency gains, decentralised digital ID systems can catalyse cross-border public sector collaboration, stimulating economic growth whilst strengthening the entire data value chain,” he explained.

A common challenge within governments has been siloed data across platforms, which creates disjointed citizen experiences when accessing services requiring identity verification across departments.

“Rather than relying on centralised databases controlled by single entities, decentralised systems enable governments to issue verifiable credentials directly to citizens,” he added.

“This architectural shift transforms service delivery by simplifying verification processes and redirecting resources towards innovation whilst enhancing cybersecurity resilience.”

The technological underpinnings provide substantial protection against fraud through cryptographic verification, which is particularly valuable for securing electoral processes and preventing fraudulent welfare claims.

Affinidi Vault allows users to discover, collect, store, share, and monetise their data across different applications while keeping control of your data. When an application requests data from the Affinidi Vault, it displays a consent page to review the requested data and request user's consent to allow access to that data. Image: Affinidi

Perhaps most significantly, adopting decentralised ID frameworks can foster greater trust between governments and citizens, where returning data-sharing control to individuals demonstrates a tangible commitment to privacy while enhancing security, public engagement and ultimately confidence.

He described this as "the essential balancing act between necessary government oversight and meaningful individual autonomy."

Preparing for the future

Influenced by global political climates, economic stability, and periods of peace and unrest, Gore noted that privacy levels fluctuate - greater privacy prevails in stable times while uncertainty tends to erode it.

As decentralised digital ID systems advance, Gore emphasised the importance for governments to address complex ethical and legal questions proactively by fostering supportive regulatory environments.

“It’s not a technology issue, but a legal issue that we should be thinking of,” he stated.

Global developments across the US, Europe and Asia demonstrate nations establishing legal frameworks, governance structures, and oversight bodies before technical deployment.

Affinidi demonstrates this approach through strategic collaborations with public sector partners, including pilot projects enabling secure cross-border talent recruitment in high-trust industries.

With the help of digital IDs and verifiable credentials, Affinidi demonstrates tangible economic benefits while maintaining rigorous security standards.

“Enabling successful digital ID systems requires balancing innovation with privacy, security, and cross-jurisdictional interoperability,” he explained.

Alongside legal frameworks, Gore advocated for government investment in education and awareness campaigns to help citizens understand the benefits and implications of these decentralised systems.

By taking a proactive and collaborative approach, governments can harness the transformative potential of decentralised IDs to create a future where citizens exercise rightful and meaningful control over their digital lives.