A framework for Identity Verification Management System using Blockchain for International Travel

Abstract

The need for an Identity Management Systems with high level data integrity of online data cannot be overemphasized due to the presence and ubiquitous nature of online activities. Traditional biometrics based identity management systems on the other hand, collect and store personal records and biometrical data in a centralized server or database, and an individual has no control over how and for what purpose her biometrics will be used. Such kind of systems can result in serious security and privacy issues for sensitive personal data. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to leveraging blockchain/smart contracts to enable secure and privacy- preserving identity management across multiple security agencies in a country, using Nigeria as a case study. The basic idea is to use blockchain to store an authority's attestation as well as an individual's transformed value. The blockchain data is then controlled by smart contracts that define various access control policies. The data owner has the flexibility to change the access control policies for any identity verifiers using a white list, a timer, and other methods. We implemented the proposed approach using the well-known sovrin ledger and tested the effectiveness and flexibility of various access control policies and data integrity benchmarks