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Knowledge mapDoes control prove real-world identity?Industry concepts and standards

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Does control prove real-world identity?

Proving control of an identifier and establishing a real-world identity are different tasks.

  1. Control proofproves control of
  2. DIDneeds trusted binding to
  3. Real-world subject
Relationship sketch · arrows show responsibilities and connections, not a complete protocol sequence.

A DID control proof alone does not establish a trusted binding to a real-world subject. DID Core distinguishes these questions. Source: DID Core 1.0 §9.2.

Consider a teaching example: a laboratory lends cameras to researchers. Lin signs a challenge with a DID. The lab still needs to determine whether this identifier belongs to an eligible borrower, whether that eligibility remains current, and whether the requested camera is covered.

Separate three decisions: who controls the identifier; who attests to eligibility; whether this request is allowed. None automatically answers the others.

The diagram deliberately labels the connection to a real-world subject as needing a trusted binding. This does not mean every interaction requires a government identity document. The evidence appropriate for borrowing equipment differs from that needed to choose a public forum nickname.

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Can a stranger who proves control of a DID collect your laboratory equipment?

No. The lab must establish the connection to borrowing eligibility and apply its rules to this request.

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