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Explore the emerging field of personhood credentials (PHCs) as a solution to the digital identity crisis in this 19-minute conference talk from PEPR '25. Delve into how AI-powered deception is driving the need for robust identity verification systems that can distinguish between artificial intelligence and humans. Learn about PHCs as an alternative approach that builds on concepts like decentralized identifiers (DIDs), proof-of-personhood, and anonymous credentials, allowing individuals to verify their unique personhood without revealing additional personal information. Examine user perceptions and reasoning about the privacy and security guarantees of PHCs compared to existing verification methods, and discover the factors that influence how people prefer to manage these credentials. Analyze critical design considerations including the selection of trusted issuers such as government agencies versus private entities, evaluate the reliability of various data attributes used for credential issuance including biometrics, physical identification documents, and selfies, and understand the complex trade-offs between centralized and decentralized issuance systems in addressing user expectations and reducing friction in adoption.
