In today’s Web3 world plagued with Sybil attacks, deepfakes, and scams, the issue of identity verification looms large. Traditional methods are met with challenges, such as privacy concerns and susceptibility to fraud.

We at Humanity Protocol, are pioneering an initiative poised to change the way we verify identity in the digital age. At the core of our mission lies our Proof of Humanity (PoH) mechanism, comprising two phases aimed at addressing the complexities of identity verification head-on.

Phase 1: Building Web3’s Human Layer

The journey begins with Phase 1, where Humanity Protocol leverages the power of palm print recognition technology to lay the foundation for a truly unique and secure identity verification process. This phase involves onboarding our growing waitlist to our testnet platform to begin using PoH.

This phase introduces a palm print recognition that users can easily capture on their mobile devices, producing high-resolution RGB images of their palms with a simple tap of a screen. While biometric authentication is not a novel concept, Phase 1 of the PoH mechanism takes it a step further by tackling the challenge of verifying human uniqueness on a massive scale.

Unlike traditional biometric authentication systems, which focus primarily on 1-to-1 matching, Phase 1 of PoH addresses the critical need for 1-to-N matching. This ensures that each individual’s biometric signature is not only similar to their own profile but also dissimilar to all other profiles within the vast network.

By striking the delicate balance between accuracy, reliability, and inclusivity, Phase 1 sets the stage for a revolutionary approach to identity verification. Keen to learn more about why we prefer palm scans to fingerprint scans? Read our blog on palm scans here.

Phase 2: Human Verification

In Phase 2, Humanity Protocol introduces a sophisticated identity validation consensus mechanism to ensure the integrity and reliability of the verification process, especially in scenarios where multiple identity validators are capable of verifying the same user claim — such as a user’s age or location.

This consensus mechanism involves a hybrid on and off-chain approach, where PoH’s identity validators collaborate to produce proof of virtual identities or even asset ownership that aligns with real-world KYC standards.

In this mechanism, identity validators conduct their verification processes off-chain, utilizing their own data to validate users’ claims. Once the verification process is complete, Identity Validators upload the standardized verification results on-chain, without revealing the details of the validation process.

This approach not only enhances security by safeguarding sensitive personal information but also ensures compliance with evolving regulatory requirements while protecting users against potential threats from counterfeit technologies. By employing off-chain validation, PoH also sets itself up to accommodate future network growth and scalability.

Synergy and implications

While Phases 1 and 2 each represent significant advancements in their own right, it is the synergy between the two that truly sets Humanity Protocol apart. By combining the accessibility of palm print recognition with the precision of PoH’s verification systems, this two-phased approach achieves a level of accuracy and reliability previously thought unattainable.

Moreover, the seamless integration of these technologies ensures a user-friendly experience without compromising on security or inclusivity. Phases 1 and 2 of PoH lay the groundwork for a revolutionary approach to identity verification — one that is accurate, reliable, and accessible to all.

Want to be the first to know when our testnet goes live? Join our waitlist here.