#1 EBSI combines W3C standards, Verifiable Credentials and DIDs, with blockchain technology for the purpose of information sharing between Citizens and Governments (C2G) or Businesses (C2B)

W3C standards are steadily gaining traction around the world to enable interoperable Self-Sovereign Information Sharing. Instead of creating new custom specifications, EBSI uses technical specifications and open standards which are widely used by existing SSI digital ecosystems. For example, quite recently, Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) became a W3C Recommendation to empower everyone on the web with privacy-preserving online identity and consent-based data sharing. EBSI is one among the many governments and industry players around the world using DIDs. EBSI is also built to be fully aligned with existing European regulations, such as GDPR and eIDAS, and is also fully compatible with existing authentication and identification means.

Want to know more?

Take a look at W3C’s announcement and at the EBSI Explained series about W3C Verifiable Credentials and DID methods.

#2 Self-Sovereign Information Sharing should help verification, not control

There is a fine line between verification and control. When we cross a border, we may be controlled, but when sharing information in everyday-life events such as applying for a job, changing address, or registering our car, we don’t want control. Instead, we want to share enough information to support the required verification processes, but keep our privacy. That’s why EBSI is all about privacy-preserving information sharing which puts us back in control, and not the other way around.

 EBSI’s work can be understood as a template for C2G and C2B information sharing in full respect of data protection and privacy. This prevents unintended access and collection of our information, and by doing so, we can avoid digital tracking and tracing of any type.

Want to know more?

Discover more about Verifiable Credentials and how do they work (Chapter 1), find how EBSI is applying VCs in the education domain (Chapter 2) and learn about Decentralised Identifiers Methods (Chapter 3).

#3 EBSI uses blockchain where it makes sense: to support the verification of Verifiable Credentials

EBSI uses blockchain as a public registry of accredited Issuers of Verifiable Credentials. In other words, blockchain is used as an immutable registry of trusted Legal Entities that are accredited to issue certain types of credentials. Additionally, EBSI makes available the public keys used by Issuers to Verifiers, in real-time. All other information is shared directly between the Holder and the Issuer, and the Holder and the Verifier, without Blockchain’s involvement. EBSI’s main design principle is to use Blockchain where it makes sense and it delivers value, and not to store personal data of natural persons.

Want to know more?

Take a look at EBSI Explained series about Issuers Trust Model (Chapter 5)

#4 EBSI contributes to an open market of SSI digital technologies and services

Digital wallets are at the heart of Self-Sovereign Information sharing. These apps receive information from Issuers of documents such as digital-native diplomas from universities, digital-native ID cards from Governments, or any other document. Once these documents are expressed as W3C Verifiable Credentials, they become sharable via digital wallets. Thanks to W3C’s design, based on verifiable claims about a subject, these documents are very easy to verify and therefore almost impossible to fake. To avoid crowding out the market, EBSI did not create and distribute its own digital wallet. Instead, EBSI promotes a market-friendly and inclusive approach that generates opportunities for small, medium, or large innovative companies that want to contribute to Europe’s Digital transformation. This is why EBSI offers a conformance testing service open and free for all that build digital wallets. These wallets should be interoperable with Issuers and Verifiers, work in cross-border scenarios, and implement EBSI’s Verifiable Credentials and DID methods. This is a flourishing market, and EBSI helps to stimulate it.

Want to know more?

EBSI’s Conformance Testing protocol, open and free for all, and at the list of conformant wallets.

#5 EBSI successfully piloted Self-Sovereign Information Sharing in the education domain

The EBSI ecosystem carried out six pilots that serve as good reference on how EBSI makes self-sovereign cross-border sharing, verification of diplomas and other education credentials possible. This involved:

• providers of digital wallets from across Europe;
• more than 18 universities from 15 countries issuing education credentials;
• and verifiers from the education ecosystem but also from the private sector.

These pilots demonstrated:

• that the exchange of digital credentials can be easily integrated into the existing infrastructure;
• how Verifiable Credentials can be used with existing or new authentication means (Verifiable Student ID and Verifiable ID);
• how EBSI can fulfill and be adapted to society’s demands.

Want to know more?

Take a look at the recording of EBSI’s demo day. More content is coming soon with the details of the success stories.