In the context of ToIP, a Public Identity Utility* ("Utility") refers to an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public identity verification service. While a Utility will generally be publicly accessible for read access, write access may be restricted by the governance model of the Utility. Utilities may be operated by a consortium of private sector entities, government monopolies or a combination of both.
A ToIP Layer 1 Utility is unique because it requires a community of stakeholders to collaborate on the operation and maintenance of the necessary decentralized infrastructure necessary to provide a public identity verification service. A key aspect of the Utilities infrastructure is interoperable with a ToIP Layer 2 protocol. *
Scope of the Term
This term is relevant to the entire scope of ToIP as well as specific to the Utility Foundry WG.
Purpose
This is a foundational term within the ToIP community to help everyone understand the framing of a public identity utility service as a web of trust provider. Stakeholders in the Utility would establish a project to organize their work and the governance of activity within the Utility.
Language
"en"
Labels concept
TBD
Variants
None
Sample Usage
"Sovrin was the original provider of a purpose build public identity utility based on Hyperledger Indy".
Proposed Definition
In the context of ToIP, a Public Identity Utility* ("Utility") refers to an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public identity verification service. While a Utility will generally be publicly accessible for read access, write access may be restricted by the governance model of the Utility. Utilities may be operated by a consortium of private sector entities, government monopolies or a combination of both.
A ToIP Layer 1 Utility is unique because it requires a community of stakeholders to collaborate on the operation and maintenance of the necessary decentralized infrastructure necessary to provide a public identity verification service. A key aspect of the Utilities infrastructure is interoperable with a ToIP Layer 2 protocol. *
Scope of the Term
This term is relevant to the entire scope of ToIP as well as specific to the Utility Foundry WG.
Purpose
This is a foundational term within the ToIP community to help everyone understand the framing of a public identity utility service as a web of trust provider. Stakeholders in the Utility would establish a project to organize their work and the governance of activity within the Utility.
Language
"en"
Labels concept
TBD
Variants
None
Sample Usage
Status
Proposed
Notes
Nothing
Tags
#ufwg