Genealogical Identity Protocol

Todd Price ([e-mail])

Abstract

The Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP) represents an innovative leap in identity verification within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Merging genealogical data in GEDCOM files with advanced cryptographic techniques, the GIP creates an immutable and secure identity system. This aligns seamlessly with Dan Roble's Innovation Bank proposal and integrates with global identity protocols, thereby enhancing interoperability.

The GIP uses GEDCOM files' rich historical and familial data as a unique identity marker, fortified by an adaptive versioning system for continuous updates and refinement. This system verifies the longest unbroken chain of ancestors, adding robust security layers to identity verification.

Furthermore, the GIP handles hash-based dependencies via a novel signing scheme, encapsulating the diversity of modern family structures. It mitigates complex familial relationships while maintaining high-security standards. By offering a dynamic and secure solution to digital identities, the GIP enhances the Bitcoin ecosystem and forecasts future breakthroughs in blockchain-based identity management.

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Motivation

The motivation for developing the Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP) stems from a need to overcome inherent identity verification challenges within the Bitcoin ecosystem and the broader digital world. The GIP is designed to cater to a global audience, seamlessly integrating with international standards for self-sovereign identity, thus ensuring its relevance and application on a global scale.

One of the primary incentives for the GIP's development is the requirement for a decentralized and secure identity verification method, fitting with the ethos of Bitcoin. GIP leverages the rich genealogical data embedded in GEDCOM files, thus creating a unique identity marker. This approach eliminates dependence on centralized authorities or government-issued identity documents, thereby reducing security risks and enhancing verifiability.

GIP's innovative approach to digital identity also allows for the creation of secondary data markets, enabling individuals to leverage their identities for personal gain. The GIP's detailed and secure identity system, combined with its sophisticated data privacy controls, creates the potential for individuals to monetize their anonymized data. This approach empowers users to control their data and benefit from its value, fundamentally shifting the dynamics of the digital economy.

Furthermore, the GIP’s flexible nature makes it capable of handling the complexities and dynamics of modern familial relationships. Its ability to manage hash-based dependencies results in a more accurate and comprehensive representation of real-world identities. This intricacy of identity representation extends to include coats of arms, heraldry, and intersection with various reputation, expertise, and public office portfolios, thus offering a more holistic and adaptable identity management system.

The GIP's end-to-end authentication capabilities form another key motivation for its implementation. By facilitating the derivation of shared secrets for key exchanges, deterministic hash chains, ECDH, and CGA++, GIP offers a more secure and efficient framework within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Finally, the GIP is motivated by the aspiration to contribute to a globally interoperable digital identity management system. Its design allows seamless integration with both self-sovereign and international identity protocols, fostering a more unified, secure, and user-centric digital identity ecosystem.

In conclusion, the GIP is driven by the urgent need for improved identity verification methods in decentralized systems like Bitcoin, the aim to empower individuals to benefit from their digital identities, and the vision to contribute to a globally interoperable, secure, and user-centric digital identity framework.

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Specification

GEDCOM Files

The Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP) takes a revolutionary step forward in identity management within the Bitcoin ecosystem by harnessing the untapped potential of Genealogical Data Communication (GEDCOM) files. The salient feature of these files is the vast genealogical information they contain about individuals and families. When used as identity markers, they create a layered, historically authenticated representation that is innately resistant to forgery and fraud.

In the GIP system, GEDCOM files form the foundation of identity representation. Each GEDCOM file serves as a detailed, dynamic, and individualized identity dossier, accurately reflecting the unique familial lineage and heritage of the user. This distinctive identity marker enhances security within the Bitcoin ecosystem by providing a robust defense against identity theft and impersonation.

However, the role of GEDCOM files within the GIP extends beyond being static identity markers. These files are dynamic entities that drive various interactions within the Bitcoin ecosystem, including transactions, authorizations, access controls, and other blockchain engagements. The user's GEDCOM-based identity is tied to these functionalities, ensuring a secure, transparent transactional environment characterized by verifiable authenticity.

The GIP further enhances the utility of GEDCOM files through an adaptive versioning system, permitting continuous updates and refinements. This feature enables each new version of a GEDCOM file to undergo independent authentication, with associated levels of signatures. The continuous refinement and authentication process ensures the ongoing enrichment of an individual's genealogical data, fostering user engagement and community validation.

This adaptive versioning system effectively addresses the inherent complexity of genealogical data, which often involves potential discrepancies or inaccuracies, particularly with respect to distant relatives. Each GEDCOM file version becomes a timestamped snapshot of a person's genealogical data at a particular point in time, with subsequent versions forming a chronological archive. This methodology provides a granular understanding of the data's evolution and adds an extra layer of authenticity.

Further enhancing security, the GIP introduces a proofing mechanism against the longest unbroken chain of ancestors. This system uses the Longest Common Substring as a verification tool to maintain consistency and coherence across different versions of a GEDCOM file.

The integration of GEDCOM files in the GIP represents a significant departure from traditional digital identity systems. The GIP presents a comprehensive, secure, and flexible identity management solution that not only ensures privacy and security but also offers flexibility, adaptability, and a reflection of real-world complexities. By empowering individuals with control over their identities and recognizing their personal history's complexity, GIP lays the foundation for a dynamic and multidimensional identity system.

Hash-Based Dependencies

The Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP) employs hash-based dependencies to encapsulate the nuances and dynamism of modern familial relationships within its innovative genealogical model. These dependencies encode intricate family bonds into the Bitcoin blockchain, leading to a highly secure, accurate, and verifiable representation of complex familial structures.

Families in the modern world often break away from traditional boundaries, encompassing non-traditional structures such as step-parenting, adoption, co-parenting, and more. The GIP, through the use of digital signatures, incorporates these diverse family structures, ensuring that every unique familial bond is authenticated and represented accurately within the system.

However, the mathematical modeling of these dynamic relationships poses a significant challenge, primarily due to their inherent dynamism and potential circular dependencies. In response, the GIP models hash-based dependencies as dynamic edges, signifying that the unique identifier (hash) of a GEDCOM file is not static and can evolve over time as new information becomes available or when newer versions of the GEDCOM files are created.

To illustrate, consider a situation where an individual and their parents have completed their GEDCOM files, but the grandparents' files remain incomplete. The incomplete grandparents' hash needs to be integrated into the GEDCOM files of both the individual and their parents. This interdependency forms a circular loop, where the completion of one hash depends on the finalization of another. The GIP's versioning system provides a solution to this complexity.

The versioning system, in conjunction with the dynamic nature of hash-based dependencies, manages these intricacies effectively. Each version of a GEDCOM file presents a snapshot of an individual's genealogical data at a particular moment. As more information becomes available, or as updates occur, newer versions of the GEDCOM files can be created, which include the updated hash. This iterative process ensures the system remains flexible and responsive to changes and updates.

The GIP employs a unique signing scheme to manage hash-based dependencies and facilitate the instantiation of GEDCOM files. Once an individual finalizes their GEDCOM file, they sign it and send it to their parents. The parents then integrate the child's hash into their GEDCOM file, sign it, and send it back. The child then generates a new version of their GEDCOM file, incorporating the parent's signed hash, and signs the new version. This process can be replicated across multiple generations, resulting in an authenticated, complete family tree.

The integration of hash-based dependencies and the adaptive versioning system in the GIP addresses the challenges of digitally representing complex familial relationships. By accurately capturing these relationships and managing their inherent dynamism, the GIP extends the concept of digital identity beyond traditional paradigms, providing an identity model that truly reflects the complexities of human relationships in the digital era.

Digital Signatures

Digital signatures play a pivotal role within the Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP), acting as the foundation for transaction authorization and asset ownership verification within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Their versatility extends across different contexts, allowing individuals to manage their degree of identity disclosure, ranging from full disclosure in high-stake environments like passport offices to pseudonymous interactions on low-risk platforms such as social media.

This flexibility stems from the GIP's unique approach to constructing signing identities. Depending on the context, various collections of data fields can be used to create distinct signing identities, encompassing realms such as business interactions, social media engagements, and legal proceedings. This approach integrates seamlessly with key management software, allowing users to authenticate with services requesting specific identity elements from their portfolio and GEDCOM file.

When a user needs to authenticate with a service that may request the signing of an engagement log, a fresh key can be generated. This key maps to the selective exposure of specific values from all the possible identity elements. The assignment of keys to identities hinges on the particular service's requirement threshold, allowing the system to cater to different levels of identity verification requirements, such as a "100 points of ID" system or a zero-knowledge proof verifying one's age.

Digital signatures within the GIP offer a robust method for secure transaction authorization and identity verification. This system bridges the gap between digital and physical identities and enables secure interactions within the Bitcoin ecosystem. The integration fosters trust and confidence in transactions and engagements within this ecosystem.

However, the practical application of digital signatures extends beyond transaction security. The GIP grants users control over the extent of their identity disclosure, accommodating the fluidity and complexity of modern identities. This user-centric approach ensures a high level of privacy, marking a significant departure from traditional identity verification methods, which often lack the adaptability to cater to the diverse needs of users in the digital era.

In essence, the implementation of digital signatures within the GIP signifies a remarkable innovation in digital identity management. By offering a secure, flexible, and user-focused system for identity management, the GIP adapts to the demands and intricacies of the modern world. This system empowers individuals to exercise control over their digital identities, emphasizing privacy and individuality.

Identity Verification

An integral component of the Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP) is its identity verification process. Relying on merkle proofs of subsets of data fields from a user's identity portfolio, corroborated by family tree data structures, the GIP forges a reliable and secure system for validating identities. The inherent interconnectedness and the unalterable nature of familial bonds create a robust infrastructure, enhancing the credibility of identity assertions.

These proofs offer a flexible system that can be tailored to various components of the identity protocol, adjusting to specific use cases. For example, certain proofs may necessitate a genealogical intersection with the societal family tree, while others could require attestations from designated experts in specific business sectors, with a particular emphasis on their intersector network connections.

This adaptive identity verification system contributes significantly to the robustness and integrity of the data. It safeguards privacy by managing the exposure of sensitive data through selective disclosure. Users can regulate who can access their data and under what conditions, fortifying privacy protection.

The GIP also introduces the concept of self-sovereign data markets. It empowers users to leverage their anonymized data by selling it while proving its genetic provenance and demographic suitability without disclosing personally identifiable information. This mechanism could stimulate the emergence of secondary data markets, where individuals have the freedom and security to benefit from their anonymized personal data.

Moreover, the GIP offers cryptographic assurances for identity verification. This includes the use of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to sign digital certificates, ensuring that the identity claims are made by the rightful owners and are not tampered with. The protocol also incorporates deterministic hash chains, which provide a way to construct a series of related hashes, where each hash depends on the previous one, adding an extra layer of security and traceability.

In summary, the GIP's approach to identity verification provides a comprehensive, resilient, and adaptable solution. Through a combination of merkle proofs, family tree data structures, expert attestations, and advanced cryptographic techniques, it addresses the complexities inherent in digital identities. Furthermore, by facilitating selective access management and the creation of secondary data markets, the GIP stands as a progressive, user-centric solution in the realm of digital identities.

Standards

The Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP) is designed to work in harmony with a broad range of identity protocols worldwide, inclusive of self-sovereign identity (SSI) frameworks and internationally recognized standards like the ISO/IEC 29115:2013 entity authentication assurance framework. This interoperability is made possible due to the GIP's state-of-the-art key management strategies, ensuring secure interfacing with various external protocols while safeguarding user privacy.

Adherence to the principles of self-sovereign identity forms the backbone of GIP. Principles like user-centric control over personal data, transparency, interoperability, and persistent identities are central to its design. This foundational alignment enables GIP to integrate seamlessly with SSI frameworks that are being developed and adopted globally, empowering users to control, manage, and utilize their digital identities across a myriad of applications. These applications span from social media platforms to financial services, while concurrently preserving user privacy and data security.

Similarly, the GIP is compliant with international identity standards such as ISO/IEC 29115:2013, which provides an entity authentication assurance framework. Such compliance assures that GIP identities are recognized, verified, and accepted in the global digital market, opening doors to a wide spectrum of uses and applications for GIP users around the world. This adaptability positions the GIP as a flexible and universal solution for digital identity management, capable of operating within a diverse range of regulatory environments and digital ecosystems.

In essence, the GIP's global alignment and seamless integration with international identity standards, supplemented by its pioneering features and groundbreaking design, positions it as a versatile and forward-thinking solution for digital identity management. By offering a secure, adaptable, and user-centered approach to identity management, the GIP signifies a significant leap forward in the domain of digital identities. Its compatibility with a diverse range of international regulatory environments and digital ecosystems further amplifies its utility and potential, marking it as a valuable asset for individuals and organizations in today's digital world.

Regulatory Compliance

The Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP) is constructed with regulatory compliance at its core, particularly focusing on key global standards such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

GDPR compliance is particularly significant as it's one of the most comprehensive and stringent data protection frameworks worldwide. It outlines robust requirements for the handling of personal data of EU citizens, including principles like data minimization, purpose limitation, accuracy, and the rights to access, rectification, and erasure.

In accordance with GDPR, the GIP's design ensures that only the minimum necessary data is collected and processed. All data handling operations align with the purpose limitation principle, i.e., data is used solely for the purpose for which it was collected, with no scope for unauthorized or unexpected usage. Data accuracy is maintained through the GIP's innovative use of blockchain technology, which enables secure, tamper-proof record-keeping.

Moreover, the GIP empowers users with direct control over their data. They can access their data at any time, correct inaccuracies, or request deletion of their data, aligning with the GDPR's rights of access, rectification, and erasure. This is made possible by the self-sovereign nature of the GIP, which places data control directly in the hands of the users.

The GIP's use of sophisticated cryptographic techniques for data protection further enhances its GDPR compliance. These techniques protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data, meeting the GDPR's requirements for data security.

In addition, the GIP is designed to be adaptable to other data protection regulations globally. Its principles of minimal data collection, purpose limitation, accuracy, security, and user control are common to many data protection frameworks, making it easier for the GIP to comply with varying regulatory requirements across different jurisdictions.

In conclusion, the GIP's strong focus on regulatory compliance, especially with the GDPR, makes it a secure and trustworthy solution for digital identity management. By prioritizing user privacy and data protection, the GIP enables individuals to engage with digital services with confidence, safe in the knowledge that their personal data is being handled responsibly and securely.

Knowledge Assets in a Decentralized World

The GIP, in alignment with Dan Roble's Innovation Bank model, considers an individual's genealogical data stored in GEDCOM files as a form of 'Knowledge Asset' (K-Asset). In this context, a K-Asset is seen as the fundamental unit of account, a validated claim that defines an individual's unique identity and family lineage.

Under the GIP, each GEDCOM file - a record of a user's family history - serves as a K-Asset, providing a vast repository of quantifiable and qualifiable data. This data not only holds the key to the individual's identity but also represents potential economic value that can be leveraged within the broader Bitcoin ecosystem.

Just as a physical asset like gold or real estate can be quantified (by weight or square footage, for instance) and qualitatively assessed (based on purity or location), so too can these K-Assets be evaluated. The quantity, in this case, refers to the extensive data points contained within each GEDCOM file, while the quality refers to the accuracy and completeness of this data, verified through the protocol's robust identity verification mechanisms.

The concept of K-Assets aligns with the growing global movement towards self-sovereign identity (SSI) protocols. These protocols aim to empower individuals by granting them ownership and control over their personal data. By framing genealogical data as a K-Asset, the GIP pioneers a new form of SSI, one that leverages the inherent value of an individual's family history.

In the larger context of network value (NV) versus hierarchy value (HV), the GIP serves as a decentralized network platform that emphasizes NV. Drawing parallels to modern platforms such as Google, Facebook, and AirBnB, the GIP aims to harness the power of network effects, using the interconnectedness of genealogical data to bridge disparate communities and derive value from the intrinsic coordination of those combined communities.

In this network-centric model, the value of the GIP ecosystem grows as more users join the network and contribute their unique genealogical data. This stands in contrast to traditional, hierarchy-based systems, which often struggle to adapt to the dynamic and diverse needs of users.

By categorizing genealogical data as K-Assets, the GIP pushes the boundaries of what constitutes an asset in the digital era, blurring the line between tangible and intangible, physical and digital. This unique approach empowers individuals to take control of their identities, facilitates the creation of secondary data markets, and paves the way for new forms of economic interaction within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Proof of Ancestor

The Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP) features an innovative mechanism known as 'Proof of Ancestor', which utilizes the power of genealogical data and advanced cryptography to deliver irrefutable proofs of lineage.

This unique system is founded upon the principle that each individual's unique lineage constitutes a secure backbone for their identity. By verifying their connection to specific ancestors, an individual bolsters the credibility and authenticity of their identity.

The implementation of 'Proof of Ancestor' extends beyond identity validation; it also provides a robust system for managing, authenticating, and preserving historical data. Through the digitization and encoding of each person's lineage into the Bitcoin blockchain via GEDCOM files, an immutable ancestral footprint is established. This information is openly verifiable, offering a decentralized method for maintaining and accessing historical data while maintaining privacy through pseudonymity.

Considering the complexity and depth of genealogical data, the GIP takes into account the management of discrepancies and potential conflicts inherent to this information. The 'Proof of Ancestor' mechanism allows for timestamped snapshots of an individual's genealogical data, serving as version-controlled GEDCOM files that encapsulate the historical progression of a person's lineage. This enables the verification of data consistency and coherence, ensuring its accuracy and authenticity over time.

An additional layer of security is established through the implementation of the Longest Common Substring (LCS) method. By verifying the longest unbroken chain of ancestors across different versions of GEDCOM files, the LCS process ensures data consistency and integrity, providing a robust defense against potential data tampering or falsification.

In conclusion, the 'Proof of Ancestor' mechanism within the GIP revolutionizes the concept of identity verification within the Bitcoin ecosystem. It not only enhances security and trust within the system, but it also pioneers a novel method of historical data preservation and access. The unique blend of genealogical data, advanced cryptographic techniques, and blockchain technology yields a secure, verifiable, and resilient approach to digital identity management.

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Implementation

To implement the GIP within the Bitcoin ecosystem, a step-by-step approach must be taken. The implementation can be outlined in four broad stages - Setup, Data Collection, Identity Verification, and Transaction Authorization.

To ensure the GIP's successful implementation, it is essential to conduct regular system audits and maintenance. This will help to identify and resolve any potential issues or vulnerabilities in the system, maintaining its effectiveness and security.

By following this approach, the Genealogical Identity Protocol can be successfully implemented within the Bitcoin ecosystem, providing a secure, reliable, and innovative solution for identity management. Its successful implementation will serve as a significant milestone in the development of the Bitcoin ecosystem, offering an unprecedented level of security and verifiability for digital identities.

Software Development

The proposed software implementation to operationalize the Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP) indeed requires careful planning and development. The outlined functionalities and user-experience are critical for adoption and efficient use of the system.

GEDCOM File Creation and Management

The first significant component is the software for creating and managing GEDCOM files. This software should enable users to input their data efficiently and accurately. It should guide users through the process, providing clear instructions and explanations to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data. In addition, it should have features for checking and validating the data, including automated checks for common errors and inconsistencies.

User Interface

A user-friendly interface is essential for broad adoption and efficient use of the software. It should be designed with a strong focus on usability and user experience, ensuring that even users who are not familiar with genealogical data or blockchain technologies can use the software effectively. The interface should be clean, intuitive, and responsive, with clear navigation and workflow.

Attestation and Versioning

The software should support an attestation mechanism, allowing users to pass their GEDCOM file to others for verification and attestation. Additionally, an inbuilt versioning system is crucial for managing updates and changes to the GEDCOM file. Users should be able to create new versions of their GEDCOM files, collect digital signature attestations on them, and easily traverse past versions.

Extended Data Fields

To accommodate hash-based dependencies, the software needs to extend the data fields of the GEDCOM file. It should allow for the input of these dependencies in the connecting values between parent, child, and sibling nodes. This requires careful planning and design to ensure that the software can handle these additional data complexities effectively.

Key Management System

Alongside the GEDCOM file management software, a robust key management system needs to be developed. This system will manage the digital signatures used for transaction authorization and asset ownership verification. It must be secure, efficient, and able to handle high transaction volumes.

Testing and Deployment

Once developed, the software should be thoroughly tested to ensure its functionality, performance, and reliability. It should be deployed in a phased manner within the Bitcoin ecosystem, with each phase thoroughly tested before moving to the next. This allows for any issues to be identified and addressed promptly.

Implementing this software solution is a considerable undertaking that will require a highly skilled and experienced development team. However, with careful planning and execution, it can significantly enhance the security, efficiency, and user experience of the GIP, driving its adoption and success.

Data Security & Privacy Protocols

Implementing data security and privacy protocols in the Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP) is essential given the sensitive nature of the genealogical data stored in GEDCOM files. These protocols should be designed to protect the data from unauthorized access and ensure its confidentiality and integrity. Here are some key considerations:

• Data Encryption: All genealogical data should be encrypted both at rest and in transit. Strong encryption algorithms should be employed to ensure that even if the data is intercepted or accessed without authorization, it cannot be read or used.

• Access Controls: Proper access controls should be in place to ensure that only authorized individuals can access and modify the GEDCOM files. This can involve the use of multi-factor authentication, biometric verification, or other advanced security measures. Access controls should also be granular, allowing different levels of access and permissions based on roles and needs.

• Data Minimization and Anonymization: Whenever possible, the system should use data minimization and anonymization techniques to limit the amount of personal data stored and processed. This can involve only collecting and storing the minimum necessary data, and anonymizing data when it is used for processing or analytics.

• Secure Key Management: The key management system used for managing the digital signatures should be highly secure, and should follow best practices for key generation, storage, and use. This can involve the use of secure hardware for key storage, regular key rotation, and protocols for key revocation and renewal.

• Auditing and Monitoring: The system should have robust auditing and monitoring capabilities to track all actions performed on the data. This can help detect any unauthorized or suspicious activities and respond quickly to any potential security incidents.

• Privacy-by-Design: The system should follow the principles of privacy-by-design, which involves considering privacy and data protection issues at the design phase of the system, and building in appropriate safeguards from the start.

With these protocols in place, GIP can ensure robust security and privacy protection for the sensitive genealogical data it handles, building trust with its users and ensuring compliance with data protection laws and standards.

Gathering and Inputting Genealogical Data

Gathering and inputting genealogical data is a vital step in the deployment of the Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP). Here's how it can be effectively done:

• Self-Reporting: Users within the Bitcoin ecosystem will self-report their genealogical data. This method puts users in control of their data, ensuring they are the primary source of their own genealogical information.

• User Interface: The interface provided for data input should be intuitive and user-friendly, with fields clearly labeled and guidance provided for each input. This can be facilitated via an easy-to-use software application designed for creating and managing GEDCOM files. The software should guide the user through the data entry process, helping them understand what information is required, why it's needed, and how it will be used.

• Data Validation: To ensure the accuracy of the genealogical data provided, there should be mechanisms in place to validate the data. This could involve automated checks for consistency and completeness, prompts for users to review and confirm their data, and support for verifying data through cross-referencing with other sources or users.

• User Support: It is crucial to provide ample support to users throughout the data gathering and input process. This could involve tutorials, FAQ sections, and readily available customer service to guide users through the process.

• Iterative Updates: Given the complexity and evolving nature of genealogical data, the system should support iterative updates. This feature would allow users to update their GEDCOM files as new information becomes available or as changes occur in their genealogical data.

• Privacy and Consent: Before gathering and inputting genealogical data, the system should clearly inform users about the privacy measures in place to protect their data and obtain their informed consent. Users should have a clear understanding of how their data will be used, who will have access to it, and how they can control or update their information.

By adopting this structured and user-centric approach to data gathering, the GIP can ensure accurate and efficient collection of genealogical data, facilitating the creation of a secure and unique identity management system within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Data Accuracy

Accuracy of genealogical data is a cornerstone in the successful implementation of the Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP). Inaccuracies could indeed jeopardize the system's integrity and effectiveness. To maintain this accuracy, several measures could be undertaken:

• User Education: Users should be educated about the importance of accurate data entry. They need to understand that the GIP relies on the correctness of this information for proper functioning. Guidelines and educational materials could be provided to users explaining the significance of accurate data, potential impacts of inaccuracies, and methods for ensuring the correctness of their entries.

• Cross-Verification: The system could cross-verify the information provided by users against other reliable sources such as external genealogical databases or government records. While this might pose privacy challenges, it could be handled carefully with the consent of the users and by ensuring the confidentiality of the data checked.

• Cryptographic Attestations: Another way to ensure data accuracy is by involving family members and relatives in the process. Once a user submits their genealogical data, relatives could provide cryptographic attestations confirming the correctness of the information. This not only ensures the accuracy of the data but also adds an additional layer of security to the system.

• Continuous Updates and Correction: The GIP should be designed to allow for easy updates and corrections. As genealogical data is dynamic and might change or evolve over time, users should be able to make changes to their GEDCOM files as needed. They should be able to rectify any errors or update their files to reflect new information.

• Auditing and Reporting Mechanisms: To maintain data accuracy, periodic audits could be performed. Users could also be encouraged to report any discrepancies they notice. This vigilance will help in maintaining the integrity of the system and ensuring its continuous accuracy.

By incorporating these measures, the GIP can ensure the accuracy and integrity of the genealogical data collected. This will not only make the system more reliable but also enhance its acceptance and credibility among users.

Identity Verification

The fifth step in implementing the Genealogical Identity Protocol (GIP) is identity verification, a crucial component that ensures the authenticity of individuals within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

• Utilizing GEDCOM Files for Identity Verification: Each GEDCOM file is unique to an individual and is the primary tool for identity verification within the GIP. These files serve as an individual's digital fingerprint within the system, representing their unique genealogical identity. When an individual makes a claim of identity, the system cross-references this claim against the data contained in the individual's GEDCOM file. This process provides a highly secure and reliable form of identity verification.

• Cryptographic Methods in Identity Verification: The use of cryptographic methods such as digital signatures and hash-based dependencies significantly enhance the security and robustness of the identity verification process. Digital signatures authenticate the identity claims made by individuals, ensuring that the claim is indeed made by the individual it purports to be. Hash-based dependencies, on the other hand, ensure the integrity of the data within the GEDCOM files. By verifying that the genealogical data has not been tampered with, they provide an additional layer of security to the system.

• Proof of Ancestor Mechanisms: These mechanisms offer an additional level of identity verification within the GIP. By cross-referencing an individual's genealogical data with other familial connections within the ecosystem, they verify the individual's lineage claims. This provides an extra layer of authentication, further bolstering the credibility and reliability of the system.

• Ensuring a Trustworthy System: The identity verification process is integral to establishing a trustworthy GIP. By accurately verifying the identities of individuals within the Bitcoin ecosystem, it ensures the security and reliability of the system. The use of advanced cryptographic methods further mitigates the risk of fraudulent activity, fostering an environment of trust and confidence among users.

The identity verification process is a crucial component of the GIP implementation. It employs sophisticated cryptographic techniques to verify the authenticity of identity claims and to protect the integrity of the genealogical data. In doing so, it establishes a secure and trustworthy identity management system within the Bitcoin ecosystem

Transaction Authorization

The final stage in the GIP implementation process, transaction authorization, ensures that every transaction made within the Bitcoin ecosystem is secure, authenticated, and involves identities that have been verified using the GEDCOM files. This is the stage where all the previous steps come together to provide a seamless and trustworthy transaction experience for all participants in the ecosystem.

• Peer-to-Peer Transaction Model: A core aspect of transaction authorization in the GIP involves a move away from the traditional server-based model towards a peer-to-peer transaction model. This enables users to authenticate transactions directly with their network peers. This eliminates the need for a central server and provides a highly scalable network architecture that enables efficient transaction validation at the edge of the network.

• Contact Books of Network Peers: In this system, users create 'contact books' or lists of network peers whom they can trust. These contact books are built based on validated GEDCOM files and verified identities, providing a solid foundation of trust within the network. Transactions can then be authorized directly between peers, leveraging the security and verification features provided by the GIP.

• End-to-End Authentication: The GIP employs end-to-end authentication to secure the transactions that are passed from one peer to another. This advanced security feature ensures that only the intended receiver can accept and validate the transaction, thereby significantly reducing the chances of fraud or unauthorized access.

• Double-Spend Check: Despite the decentralization of transaction authorization, a mechanism for preventing double-spending is necessary to maintain the integrity of the Bitcoin ecosystem. In this scenario, the 'small world miner network' comes into play. This network of miners, who are closer in terms of network hops, can efficiently verify whether the same Bitcoin has been spent twice, thereby maintaining the overall security of the system.

In conclusion, the transaction authorization phase is critical for implementing the GIP. By using a decentralized model and advanced security features, it ensures that transactions are secure, reliable, and involve only verified identities. This fosters an environment of trust and confidence, laying the groundwork for a secure and efficient system of identity management and transactions within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

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##References Robles, D.R., Layton, B.E. "The Innovation Bank: Blockchain Technology and the Decentralization of the Engineering Professions." Available at: https://bico.media/7c7161e2ff483e6df2fdc4a4d5d0396811cd1defb74c96d0ecf44797ad0bde0b