We Are Solving the Identity Problem

Identity is a fundamental right. Yet, in this current state of centralization, surveillance and artificial intelligence, it is under threat.

In the Web 2.0 era, dominant platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Google have effectively constructed a networked social infrastructure for the internet. They solidified their positions by gaining widespread recognition as credential providers.

However, this consolidation has led to a troubling reality where a handful of companies, along with their influential executives, wield significant control over vast amounts of humanity's data and identity. Consequently, they possess the capability to exploit and monetize our personal information, raising concerns about privacy and autonomy.

As we step into the Web 3.0 era, the problem of identity is still not solved. At the center is the Sybil attack problem:

💡 Sybil attacks describe the abuse of a digital network by creating many illegitimate virtual personas. The current generation of blockchains is Sybil-resistant at the consensus mechanism level but not at the application level: while blockchain block producers (”miners”) can rely on Sybil-resistant consensus mechanisms (e.g., Proof-of-Work, Proof-of-Stake) to ensure that all transactions included on the blockchain ledger are 'valid,' they lack tools to prevent a malicious actor from submitting multiple 'valid' transactions under fake identities.

When extended to the realm of identity, this challenge is often referred to as the "unique-human" problem. For instance, online voting systems frequently encounter attacks from illegitimate accounts. Similarly, while blockchain networks have decentralized the creation of currencies, the equitable distribution of this value, such as through a Universal Basic Income (UBI), faces hurdles due to the absence of robust identity frameworks. These frameworks are essential for safeguarding currencies from attackers who exploit fake accounts to acquire more than their fair share of value.

In addition to limiting the quality of virtual life on Web 3.0, the identity problem also limits the extent to which revolutionary Web3 innovations integrate into our lives offline. Without credible proof of identity, the foundation of modern economic lives such as the establishment of property rights and credit profiles would not be possible. Perpetual segregation of online and offline economies ultimately restricts the growth of the former.

Humanity Protocol (HP) is designed to be a true bridge between Web3 and the physical world while fostering prosocial, community-oriented behavior, where both users and applications are significantly limited in their ability to exploit and attack each other.

…And Solving It the Right Way

Existing Proof-of-Personhood technologies are either dystopian, privacy-invasive, or both. Humanity Protocol is building an ecosystem that truly drives decentralization, identity ownership, equity, and inclusion. At the heart of HP is the Proof-of-Humanity (PoH) mechanism. PoH is the world’s first scalable and decentralized solution to the unique human problem. The goal of PoH is not to assess “who you are”, but merely to confirm that “you are a unique human being” (Phase 1), and “you are who you say you are” (Phase 2).

PoH leverages the cutting-edge in non-invasive and inclusive palm recognition, decentralized data storage, zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs, self-sovereign identity (SSI) framework and real-world KYC technologies. We seamlessly wrap all of them together in a Layer 2 ZK-rollup that is completely EVM-compatible. Beyond functioning on just our native home, Proof of Humanity will also serve as a humanity and identity attestation service for DApps built on other networks as well as other protocols themselves (EVM or otherwise).

One of HP’s key innovations is the integration of AI and HP hardware, particularly in the development and deployment of deep learning models for biometric identification. HP’s AI palm recognition algorithm is trained on a diverse dataset of palm print and palm vein features, collected over half a decade using the easily available HP hardware that works in both visible and infrared light spectra. The result is a highly accurate and reliable human recognition module that's also cost-effective, inclusive and user-friendly.

The DePIN network empowered by HP hardware, a cornerstone of Humanity Protocol's vision, exemplifies the protocol's utility in bridging the on-chain and off-chain worlds. DePIN facilitates secure, blockchain-verified access to physical infrastructure, enabling a myriad of applications from secure building entry and streamlined hotel check-ins to convenient payments through the simple wave of a hand, all authenticated through the Humanity Protocol ecosystem.

Proof of Humanity will serve as the core of a network of blockchains that gives users complete self-sovereignty, full control of how their data can be accessed by others, and interoperability with their real-world assets (RWA) — all while being truly Sybil-resistant at both the consensus and application levels, ultra-fast and highly scalable.