System and method for authenticating user identity
A system for authenticating user identities and exchange data via a blockchain is described. Initially, first data related to a commitment being made by a user is obtained by a client device. The first data is partly based on information identificatory or a characteristic of the user. The first data is sent by the client device to a verification system. The verification system then verifies that the first data corresponds with second data generated using identification documentation of the user. The data representing the commitment to a blockchain is posted by the verification system responsive to a successful verification.
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
generating, by a client device, a commitment based on information characteristic of a user and on a random number inputted at the client device;
sending, by the client device to a verification system, the commitment and the information characteristic of the user;
verifying, by the verification system, the commitment using documentation provided by the user comprising the information characteristic of the user; and
responsive to the verification, posting, by the verification system, the commitment to a blockchain,
wherein the posting comprises a block being added in sequence with one or more other commitments broadcasted during a contemporary time window.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the verifying is performed (i) via a non-interactive zero-knowledge proof with the client device and (ii) without the verification system obtaining the random number.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information characteristic of the user indicates a demographic to which the user belongs.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the documentation is a driver's license, an employee badge, a birth certificate, or a passport.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the commitment is posted to the blockchain using an identifier associated with the user or an identifier associated with the verification system.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the non-interactive zero-knowledge proof is a zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive argument of knowledge (ZKSNARK).
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blockchain is a tamper-resistant ledger comprising a chronological ordering of a plurality of blocks.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the verification system is associated with a governmental organization or an employer of the user.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the commitment is generated using an elliptic curve scalar multiplication.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the client device is engaged with a requesting system in a secure multiparty computation (SMC), the method further comprising:
providing, by the client device, the random number to the SMC;
obtaining, by the requesting system from the blockchain, the commitment;
submitting, by the requesting system, the commitment into another zero-knowledge proof with the client device; and
determining, via the other zero-knowledge proof, that one or more computations performed using the random number and the commitment indicate a correspondence.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the SMC is performed peer-to-peer between the client device and the requesting system without involving a third party.
12. The method of claim 10 , posting, by the requesting system to the blockchain, a request pertaining to an advertisement, survey, royalty scheme, loyalty scheme, or auction,
wherein the SMC is integrated into the blockchain, and
wherein a user of the requesting system is an information requester.
13. A system comprising one or more processors and storage media storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause:
generating, by a client device, a commitment based on information characteristic of a user and on a random number inputted at the client device;
sending, by the client device to a verification system, the commitment and the information characteristic of the user;
verifying, by the verification system, the commitment using documentation provided by the user comprising the information characteristic of the user; and
responsive to the verification, posting, by the verification system, the commitment to a blockchain,
wherein the posting comprises a block being added in sequence with one or more other commitments broadcasted during a contemporary time window.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the verifying is performed (i) via a non-interactive zero-knowledge proof with the client device and (ii) without the verification system obtaining the random number.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the non-interactive zero-knowledge proof is a zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive argument of knowledge (ZKSNARK).
16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the information characteristic of the user indicates a demographic to which the user belongs.
17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the documentation is a driver's license, an employee badge, a birth certificate, or a passport.
18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the commitment is posted to the blockchain using an identifier associated with the user or an identifier associated with the verification system.
19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the blockchain is a tamper-resistant ledger comprising a chronological ordering of a plurality of blocks.
20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the commitment is generated using an elliptic curve scalar multiplication.