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Ask HN: How to Uniquely Identify a Person?

3 points by madeuptempacct ↗ HN
Let's say I want to create data for every single person in the US, but I want to give that person (and that person only) the ability to delete their own data.

Is such a thing possible? Or is the best approximation forcing people to register with a phone number and pretend that it's an ID like everyone else?

5 comments

[ 3.2 ms ] story [ 23.0 ms ] thread
auslegung
Would a UUID work? Databases use a unique ID to identify data, but I’m not sure why you’re asking so maybe your issue is more complicated than I understand?
madeuptempacct
I could make a GUID, but it doesn't do me any good. My goal is for a person to be able to come to my site, and find the record for "Bob Smith, born in 1978", which was automatically generated.

Then, "Bob Smith" would have to prove he is Bob Smith (without me asking for a driver's license or passport, preferably automatically). Once Bob Smith proves he is Bob Smith, he would be able to delete or modify his data on my site.

Basically, I want the user to have the capability to opt out or make adjustments, but I don't want random people opting out other random people.

m1573rp34130dy
...I still have the remnants of an RFID device in my left love handle... its now a cyst about an inch in diameter... authentication is a big elephant to eat... lets start from here...

1]- something you know ....e.g a psword or passwd , hash, modulus

2]- something you have ...rfid tag, keyfob

3]- something you are ... biometrics

and the ball is served [P ' TING ]

...lets look in the mirror

    something you dont know, something you dont have, something you are not...
dredmorbius
UUIDs are distinguishers, not identifiers.

That is, an identifier is actually a link between two things, and says: A corresponds to B.

Well-known UUIDs such as national identity numbers are often used to indicate such a relationship. The do not however prove it.

dredmorbius
What are the standards for identity elsewhere?

How do you plan on verifying these?

What is the value in the data? Risk?