Pseudonyms

What it is useful for

Pseudonyms are useful for: - Protecting user privacy in online platforms - Allowing anonymous participation in discussions or transactions - Maintaining consistent identities across multiple services without revealing personal information - Compliance with data protection regulations that require data minimization

Example

In a social media platform, a user might choose the pseudonym "SunflowerDreamer" instead of using their real name "Jane Smith". This allows Jane to participate in discussions while maintaining her privacy.

General Properties

  • Uniqueness within a given context.

  • Consistency (the same entity always uses the same pseudonym in a given context).

  • Reversibility (optional, depending on the system's requirements).

  • Non-linkability to the real identity (without additional information).

Requirements

  • IT-Wallet MUST be able to generate or assign unique pseudonyms.

  • The pseudonym SHOULD NOT contain information that directly reveals the entity's real identity.

  • The system SHOULD maintain a secure mapping between pseudonyms and real identities (if reversibility is required).

  • The pseudonym generation process SHOULD be resistant to guessing attacks.

Implementation Considerations

  • IT-Wallet MUST use a pseudonym format that balances uniqueness, readability, and security.

  • IT-Wallet MUST implement a secure method for generating and storing pseudonyms.

  • IT-Wallet SHOULD use different pseudonyms for the same entity across different contexts to prevent cross-context linking.

  • IT-Wallet SHOULD implement access controls to protect the mapping between pseudonyms and real identities.

  • IT-Wallet SHOULD implements policies for pseudonym rotation or expiration.