Immutable Phone Numbers Can be People’s Identity

As technology advances, more governments see the need of having a dependable and secure digital identity system. Bhutan has been working for some years on building its national digital identification programme. Yet, one critical problem that the initiative must address is how to ensure that individuals’ digital identities are both safe and easy to manage. One proposed solution is to link individual people’s information to an immutable phone number that they may keep for the rest of their lives. In this blog article, we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.

What is an Unchangeable Phone Number?

An immutable phone number is a one-time number that is assigned to a person and stays with them for the rest of their lives. Because this number cannot be modified or reproduced, it is an excellent way to link a person’s information to their identity. Several nations currently employ immutable phone numbers for a variety of reasons, including banking and financial services.

The Advantages of Assigning Individuals’ Information to an Immutable Phone Number

Attaching individual people’s information to an immutable phone number has various advantages for Bhutan’s national digital identification project:

Simple to Manage: An immutable phone number would make managing and updating a person’s information easier. Whenever a person’s name or address changes, for example, this information may be quickly changed on their digital identification profile by verifying it with people’s movements.

Authentication: An unchangeable phone number can also be used for authentication. It would be easier to authenticate a person’s identification while making online purchases or accessing government services if their information is linked to their phone number.

Security: An immutable phone number would give another degree of protection to a person’s digital identity. It would be more difficult for hackers or other malicious actors to steal a person’s identity if they used a unique identification that could not be modified or replicated.

Consistency: Regardless of how many times a person changes their phone, an immutable phone number would guarantee consistency across their digital identities. This ensures that a person’s information is always up to date and correct, regardless of where they travel or what services they use.

Possible Pitfalls of This Approach

While connecting individual people’s information to an immutable phone number has several advantages, it also has some potential drawbacks:

Issues about privacy: One of the key problems of adopting an immutable phone number is the issue of privacy. If a person’s phone number is connected to their personal information, this information may be accessible by unauthorized people or groups.

Security Risks: While an immutable phone number might give an extra degree of protection, it is not perfect. If a person’s phone is misplaced or stolen, their digital identity may be compromised.

Remedy for the Issues

There are numerous solutions that may be used to mitigate the possible problems of utilizing an immutable phone number:

Strong Data Protection Laws: Strong data protection rules can be put in place to guarantee that personal information is kept private and not disclosed without the person’s permission.

Additional Security Measures: Other security measures, such as two-factor authentication, can be put in place to secure a person’s digital identity even if their phone is lost or stolen.

Conclusion

In conclusion, attaching individual people’s information to an immutable phone number is a promising solution for Bhutan’s national digital identity project. It would make managing and updating a person’s information easier, provide an additional layer of security, and ensure consistency across a person’s digital identity. However, there are potential drawbacks to this approach, including privacy concerns and security risks. By implementing strong data protection laws, additional security measures, and investing in technology, Bhutan can mitigate these risks and create a secure and reliable digital identity system. Overall, the benefits of using an immutable phone number for Bhutan’s national digital identity project are significant and have the potential to transform the way citizens access services and participate in the digital economy.