Explain Kantara in 500 words
Kantara is a global consortium that focuses on promoting trustworthy digital identity and personal data ecosystems. It was established in 2009 with the goal of advancing the development and adoption of identity-related technologies and standards. The consortium brings together various stakeholders from the private sector, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to collaborate on creating a more secure and privacy-enhancing digital environment.
One of the key objectives of Kantara is to develop and promote interoperable identity standards that enable individuals to have control over their personal data and how it is used. The consortium recognizes the importance of privacy and consent in the digital age and aims to provide individuals with the tools and frameworks to manage their digital identities effectively.
Kantara has developed a set of technical specifications and guidelines, known as the Kantara Initiative Trust Framework, which provides a framework for assessing and certifying the trustworthiness of identity service providers and their compliance with privacy and security requirements. This trust framework helps organizations build and operate identity systems that are privacy-enhancing, secure, and interoperable.
In addition to developing technical standards, Kantara also plays an important role in influencing policy and regulatory discussions related to digital identity and personal data protection. The consortium actively engages with governments and international organizations to advocate for privacy-enhancing practices and promote the adoption of trustworthy identity solutions.
Kantara's work is organized into various working groups and committees, each focusing on specific areas of interest. These groups include the Identity Assurance Working Group, which develops and maintains the trust framework and certification program, the Consent & Information Sharing Working Group, which focuses on privacy and consent-related issues, and the User Managed Access (UMA) Working Group, which develops standards for user-centric access control.
One of the notable initiatives led by Kantara is the Consent Receipt Specification, which provides a standardized format for capturing and sharing consent information in a machine-readable manner. This specification aims to enhance transparency and accountability in data processing by enabling individuals to easily understand and manage their consent choices.
Kantara also collaborates with other industry organizations and standards bodies, such as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), to ensure alignment and interoperability between different identity and privacy standards. This collaboration helps to avoid fragmentation and promote the adoption of consistent and interoperable solutions.
Overall, Kantara plays a crucial role in advancing the development and adoption of trustworthy digital identity and personal data ecosystems. Through its technical standards, policy advocacy, and collaboration with various stakeholders, the consortium aims to empower individuals with control over their digital identities and promote privacy-enhancing practices in the digital age. By fostering interoperability and trustworthiness, Kantara contributes to the creation of a more secure and privacy-respecting digital environment.