Personal Identification and Encryption Technology: Solving the Identity Issues of Web3 Social Users

In the development of Web3 social networks, user identification has always been a tricky problem. How to effectively identify real users and bots while protecting user privacy has become a key issue that decentralized social platforms urgently need to solve. This article will explore two main solutions: biometric identification and social assurance mechanisms.

The Dual Challenges of User Identification Authentication

Modern social media faces a serious bot problem. Bots have a significant impact on public discourse, from influencing elections to manipulating public opinion. For decentralized social platforms that emphasize anonymity and privacy, effectively identifying real users in the age of artificial intelligence is a huge challenge.

On the other hand, traditional KYC identification methods raise concerns about privacy breaches. Users are reluctant to entrust sensitive personal data to social platforms. Therefore, the core of user identification lies in how to seek a balance between confirming that "the user is a real human" and protecting personal privacy.

Biometric Identification: Worldcoin's Attempt

Worldcoin employs a direct biometric solution: creating biometric proof through retinal scans to verify that users are human and not robots. To protect privacy, Worldcoin claims to use zero-knowledge proof technology to securely store biometric data.

The vision of Worldcoin is to create a "digital passport" that lays the foundation for future cryptocurrency basic income and global democratic governance. However, the project also faces numerous controversies, including data security, fairness, and overall privacy protection issues. Especially during its promotion in developing countries, Worldcoin has been criticized for "crypto-colonialism."

Social Guarantee Mechanism: Another Approach

Another solution is to adopt a social guarantee mechanism. This approach is based on a simple assumption: if multiple verified human users vouch for someone, then that person is likely to be a real user as well. The key lies in how to design a reasonable incentive mechanism to maximize the effect of "human verification."

Some projects like "Proof of Humanity", BrightID, etc. are exploring this path. They verify user identification through video calls, ongoing captcha challenges, and other methods, utilizing social networks. This approach seems less intrusive compared to biometrics, and certain implementations can even maintain a degree of anonymity.

Future Outlook

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, designing innovative human identification mechanisms has become increasingly important. This not only relates to the implementation of incentive measures such as universal basic income but also serves as the foundation for the healthy development of future social networks.

However, there are many trade-offs between data privacy, process invasiveness, and effectiveness. As Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin pointed out, there may not be a perfect form of human identification. One possible solution is to adopt a hybrid approach: using biometrics in the short term and transitioning to more social network-based methods in the long term.

Regardless of the approach taken, this field will require greater transparency in the future. Only by truly achieving decentralization and privacy protection can a social network infrastructure that aligns with the original intent of encryption currency be built.