The government of Catalonia, an autonomous community of Spain, announced at the weekend it was to develop a decentralized identity platform, built on blockchain technology.

Announced by Catalan president Quim Torra and his minister for digital policy Jordi Puignero on Saturday, the scheme, called IndentiCAT, aims to give citizens more control over their personal data – particularly when using online services.

Not a Digital Indentity Card

Puignero insisted that the project would not simply be a form of digital identity card, but an app that will act as “digital service instrument empowering citizens and guaranteeing the highest level of identity protection in accordance with the data protection laws”.

Citing a press release, Catalan News reported President Torra as adding:

[IdentiCAT will allow] Catalonia to become the first country with a decentralized digital identity where citizens own, manage and are the sole custodians of their identity and data.

Earlier in September the government of Sierra Leone announced it planned to adopt a blockchain powered national identity system before the end of the year.

According to a report by NFCW.com the system will enable the government to digitize identities and for citizens to have improved access to credit, investment and “meaningful financial inclusion”. President Julius Maada Bio explained further:

I am proud to note that the new digital identity system is built with clear guidelines on principles of self-sovereignty to protect information from unauthorised access. Ultimately, it is Sierra Leoneans who own their data and it is they who should decide with whom they share that data and how that data is used.

 

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