The mandate of this project was to explore digital identity and understand the role that Financial Institutions should play in building a global standard for digital identityPROJECT CONTEXT Identity is a critical topic in Financial Services today. Current identity systems are limiting Fintech innovation as well as secure and efficient service delivery in Financial Services and society more broadly. Digital identity is widely recognised as the next step in identity systems. However, while many efforts are underway to solve parts of the identity challenge and create true digital identity, there is a need for a concerted and coordinated effort to build a truly transformational digital identity system. This document is intended as a guide for Chief Strategy Officers of Financial Institutions as well as policy makers who are interested in the topic of identity and want to understand digital identity and their own potential role in the creation of robust digital identity systems. 11 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM | 2016 PROJECT SCOPE The mandate of this project was to explore identity and its importance in Fintech, Financial Services and in developed societies broadly, the topic of digital identity, and provide a landscape scan of current efforts to build digital identity solutions. This report will discuss different structures for identity systems and discuss which configurations are best suited to solve different problems, and provide a perspective on the role of Financial Institutions in building digital identity systems. This report will not focus on the creation of standards around identity; much valuable work has already been done in this space and current developments such as the publication of the European Union eIDAS Regulation are moving the conversation on this front. Nor will it discuss technology solutions. Rather, it will attempt to provide clarity and direction around the structure of identity and provide a call to action for Financial Institutions to move against the identity challenge.
