Last week at the NAPHSIS Identity and Security Conference, Decentralized Identity was clearly top of mind. The commitment to issuing digital birth and death certificates as verifiable credentials is a priority among attendees, and NAPHSIS envisions this becoming a reality nationwide by 2026.

The implications of such an initiative are far-reaching. Not only will it make lives easier and more secure, but it could also open doors to new economic opportunities. Having access to reliable decentralized identities in the form of digital vital event certificates will reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud, improving data privacy for all of us. Plus, with reliable digital veritable credentials, governments and citizens alike can benefit from improved data collection, record-keeping, and streamlined access to services and programs.

However, there is still much to be done before this becomes a reality. The implementation of decentralized identity for digital vital event certificates presents several challenges, not from a technological perspective, but primarily on the regulatory front. At the state level, laws need to be updated to ensure that states can issue digital vital event certificates. Additionally, there needs to be clear guidance from the federal government on privacy and data security for digital identity credentials, which has started now that NIST has enhanced authority on this topic. NAPHSIS and the states also need to develop standards for the data elements and value sets required for nationwide interoperable of digital vital records. Last, but not least, adequate funding and revenue streams at both the state and federal levels need to be established to ensure sustainability of the system.

During the conference, Voyatek presented our proactive approach to the challenges of decentralizing identity, demonstrating our commitment to making vital records more efficient, secure, and customer friendly. Our industry-changing solution removes the need for hosted biometrics in the certification process and enables governments and citizens alike to access reliable information with confidence, ensuring that vital records are accessible, trustworthy, and secure.

Overall, decentralized identity was clearly a hot topic at the NAPHSIS Identity and Security Conference.  As we continue to strive towards making digital identity credentials a nationwide reality, Voyatek remains committed to providing a solution that offers citizens greater security and autonomy and offers governments improved data collection and record-keeping. This is an incredible step forward as we continue to move towards a more secure future.