Identity crisis: User perspectives on multiplicity and control in federated identity management

Satchell, Christine and Shanks, Graeme and Howard, Steve and Murphy, John (2008) Identity crisis: User perspectives on multiplicity and control in federated identity management. Behaviour & Information Technology.

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Abstract

Federated identity management systems synthesise complex and fragmented user information into a single entity. Literature from the provider’s perspective note this integration extends many benefits to the end user and the privileges provided by digital identity authentication schemes have been well documented from this perspective. Less explored are the perceptions of federation from the user’s perspective. This paper reports an empirical user study that examines the relationship between identity and technology using contextual interviews, focus groups and cultural probes. It emerges that while current federated systems satisfy user needs by allowing the construction of multiple digital data sets that are moored to a central identifier, they fail to provide the user with control over the capability to act in the ‘hatch’, ‘match’ and ‘dispatch’ phases of the digital identity lifecycle. Ultimately, this reduces the user’s trust in providers and results in reluctance to disclose personal details.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Status:	In Press
Keywords:	Identity, Identity Management Systems, User Needs
Subjects:	280000 Information, Computing and Communication Sciences > 280100 Information Systems > 280104 Computer-Human Interaction
ID Code:	12595
Deposited By:	Satchell, Christine
Deposited On:	21 February 2008
Alternative Locations:	http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tandf/tbit
Copyright Owner:	Copyright 2008 Taylor & Francis
Copyright Statement:	First published in Behaviour & Information Technology
Additional Information:	The author-version of this article will be available 12 months after publication. For more information, please refer to the journal’s website (see hypertext link) or contact the author.