Blockchain for Identity Management: The Implications to Personal Data Protection

Abstract

Identity symbolizes a personal level of an individual and becomes an embodiment of who we are, and Identity Management in Information Communication Technologies field represents the basis of authenticating a specific individual. Therefore, it is important to protect and control identity as personal information so that unfortunate misconduct would be avoided. Currently, how individuals are represented in the digital ecosystem appears to be permissive with the management of centralized control on identity. Recently, blockchain technology has been making its mark as a revolutionized approach to exceed expectations with its decentralized approach. Popularized with the cryptocurrency, blockchain technology could also create a disruptive effect in the area of identity management. In the domain of identity management, privacy protection is crucial to the security of personal data. However, there is a lack of systematic study on how the identity management aspect of blockchain technology supports personal data protection based on the requirement of regulations. In this paper, we aim to close this gap through a systematic review to examine how the identity management aspect of blockchain technology supports or contradicts personal data protection based on the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements.