IIW - Internet Identity Workshop

The Internet Identity Workshop (IIW) stands as one of the longest-running and most influential gatherings in the digital identity space, having been established in 2005 by identity pioneers including Doc Searls, Phil Windley, and Drummond Reed. The workshop emerged during a critical period when the need for standardized Internet-scale identity systems was becoming increasingly apparent, particularly to address challenges of authentication and authorization across organizational boundaries.

Operating on an unconference model, IIW has served as the birthplace and development ground for numerous fundamental digital identity technologies and standards, including:

• Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI)
• OpenID Connect
• DID (Decentralized Identifier) specifications
• Verifiable Credentials
• User-Centric Identity frameworks

The bi-annual workshops bring together technical experts, developers, and thought leaders to discuss and develop solutions for Internet-scale identity systems. Notable early discussions at IIW centered around various architectural proposals including:

• Liberty Alliance specifications
• Microsoft's InfoCard system
• Identity Commons frameworks
• SXIP
• OpenID
• XRI/XDI protocols

IIW has maintained its position as a neutral forum where competing approaches and technologies can be debated and refined, contributing significantly to the evolution of modern digital identity standards and protocols. The workshop's format combines structured presentations with open space discussions, allowing for both formal technical presentations and emergent conversations about identity architecture, governance, and philosophy.