Microsoft’s Bitcoin-Based Identity Tool with Daniel Buchner

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“What we most care about is entering stuff in the most immutable, hardened record imaginable, and right now that’s Bitcoin.”
— Daniel Buchner

SHOW DESCRIPTION

Location: Zoom
Date: Thursday 28th May
Project: Microsoft
Role: Head of Decentralised Identity

Social media is omnipresent with most all of us have a Twitter, Facebook or Google account, using them every day for both personal and business. We build connections, relationships and trust through them. However, these companies implement strict controls over the content on their platforms with shadowbanning and deplatforming growing. 

The controls which they enforce on their platforms can have further-reaching consequences. As well as offering access via a standard email and password, most websites also provide the option to login via a Facebook, Twitter or Google account. If one of those services decides to deplatform you, then you could lose your account with any associated websites.

To solve this issue and improve on the nature of IDs, Microsoft has launched their Decentralised Identity program in which they offer users a decentralised personal identifier, which is under your control, using the most immutable and secure solution; Bitcoin.

In this interview, I talk to Daniel Buchner, Head of Decentralised Identity at Microsoft to discuss how a Bitcoin-based decentralised identity system works. We also talk about libertarianism, coronavirus and the protests over the death of George Floyd.

TIMESTAMPS

00:03:22: Introductions
00:04:50: Decentralized Identity project
00:08:18: Future decentralized web
00:12:27: Value to Microsoft
00:13:51: Why use Bitcoin?
00:16:38: Current status of project
00:19:05: Multiple IDs per person
00:21:34: Microsoft Authenticator
00:23:45: Impacts on the Bitcoin blockchain
00:27:31: Project roadmap
00:31:29: Further details on project
00:34:57: Libertarian views
00:37:41: Current fiery landscape
00:40:09: Consistent failures of governments
00:44:13: How to function without government
00:49:32: Divisive politics in 2020
00:54:32: Second amendment
00:59:51: Tying identity to politicians
01:05:49: Final comments

 

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SHOW NOTES

PodcastPeter McCormack