Categories: Tech News

What is the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum doing?

Politicians and policy makers all around Europe (and the world) try to implement digital solutions and new technologies to improve governmental services. One of the main technologies discussed recently is blockchain.
The European Union Blockchain Observatory and Forum (https://www.eublockchainforum.eu/) aims to accelerate blockchain innovation and the development of the blockchain ecosystem within the EU, and so help cement Europe’s position as a global leader in this transformative new technology.
The EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum is being run under the aegis of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT). Partners include ConsenSys (general contractor), the University of Southampton, the Knowledge Media Institute at the Open University, University College London, and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences. The Observatory & Forum also involves a network of more than 60 working group members and a community of 1000+ participants all across Europe.
Find out more about the initiative:
Official press release on EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum’s launch — http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-521_en.htm
In a series of reports, studies and whitepapers, the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum wants to share findings and recommendations for European politicians and policy makers on what advantages the application of blockchain technology could bring to the society.
Report: “Blockchain and Digital Identity”
Disclaimer: The information and views set out in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Commission. The Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study. Neither the Commission nor any person acting on the Commission’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Quotes taken from Executive Summary of the report:

“There are few things more central to a functioning society and economy than identity. Without a way to identify each other and our possessions we would hardly be able to build large nations or create global markets. Unfortunately, there are persistent – and increasingly serious – problems with the way digital identity works.”

“In the decentralised identity paradigm, the idea is to put the user at the centre of the framework and so remove the need for these third parties. In this world, the user “creates” his or her own identity, generally by creating his or her own unique identifier (or a number of them), and then attaching identity information to that identifier. By associating verifiable credentials from recognised authorities, for instance governments, users can in effect create the digital equivalents of physical world credentials like national IDs and driving licences.”

“By setting up a system in which the user controls not just the identity but also the data associated with it, we can create what are known as self- sovereign identities (SSI). In an SSI approach, the user has both a meansof generating and controlling unique identifiers as well as some facility to store identity data.”

“Perhaps the most important regulation dealing with identity in the EU is the electronic IDentification, Authenticationand Trust Services regulation (eIDAS).”

“Our exploration ends with a few thoughts on what policy makers might do to foster the decentralised identity landscape in Europe. Chief among these is to clarify the open regulatory questions, in particular around the standing of blockchain-based signatures and timestamps under eIDAS.”

“In our recommendations section we suggest and expand on the following aspects:
  1. Support the role of government as an issuer of verifiable credentials.
  2. Clarify the relation of blockchains to eIDAS.
  3. Clarify open issues around decentralised identity and the GDPR.
  4. Clarify other potential regulatory issues.
  5. Continue the work of exploring a European Self-Sovereign Identity framework as part of the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI).
  6. Support the broad use of digital identity in cities.”

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Simon Cocking

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