FWIW, I hate to see people having to create multiple identities as a bit of a hurdle to engage with #Fediverse in those different ways.
If I want my Fediverse identity to post both a microblogging message and Pixelfed type content, it stinks to have to wrangle between split identities instead of having it all tied to one.
I BELIEVE #ActivityPub has the capability to support single identities across services, though I don't know if it's ever really been implemented.
But I really hope development of programs like #Mastodon go in that direction so that someday, sooner rather than later, a person can present a single identity that crosses between services.
On the topic of #Fediverse identity, I dipped my toe in for a second and came across an interesting thread.
#ActivityPub is the tip of a huge (and I'd say convoluted) iceberg, so it's hard for me to remember much of it at once.
Oversimplifying, identities are merely URIs, so a person could be credited for content across platforms by specifying the same URI on each post. Except...
I refreshed my memory on the protections against simply forging someone else's id by specifying their URI.
When a person is followed, their server/instance issues a certificate on their behalf, which causes other problems should the server lose the cert.
I suppose the next hoop to jump through, that I don't have time to dive into, is wondering whether the user could simply provide their person cert as they register on a new instance.
@tedcurran @volkris @david I NZ Govt has something like this implemented by multiple agencies, across range sites and apps. No idea what the tech stack is under the hood or license is or whatever but it's good. Perhaps different in terms of scenario, but agree it would be amazing have a similar digital passport across the fediverse. FediMe? Yeah way better than setting up and trying to manage multiple id's and accounts and shit all over the place.
That's super interesting and helpful, thanks!
I discussed this on today's Boles.tv live stream. It's a fascinating topic!
@volkris @david Agreed it's not ideal. I feel like I've heard about efforts to develop decentralized personal identity keychains, where you can lend your identity to a service without that service OWNING your identity, you own it. I don't recall what it's called or if it's ready for prime time yet. Identity as a service? I imagine it's complicated, as identifying oneself inevitably is.