$ADA: IOG’s Head of Product (Identity) Testifies Before California State Senate

Recently, Tony Rose, Head of Product (Identity) at Input Output Global (“IOG”), the company responsible for the development of the Cardano protocol, testified in support of bill SB 1190 before the California Senate Governmental Organization Committee.

Rose, who is also a board member at Blockchain Advocacy Coalition, as well as founder and chairman of Proof Market Incorporated, testified before the California State Senate on March 29 in support of a “trailblazing piece of legislation” presented by Senate Majority Leader Senator Bob Hertzberg to establish a California Trust Framework and pilot program. The aim of this bill is “to establish a California Trust Framework and pilot program.”

Senator Hertzberg said:

“And so what are we doing here today and moving this debate forward? This is aimed at one of the recommendations coming from the blockchain working group, and it deals with verified credentials. Verifiable credentials are part of our daily life… Verifying these credentials… is often a time consuming paper-based process without adequate security.

“Electronic credentials are seen as too easily forged and unreliable. Blockchain-based credentials can help remove friction that enables securing showing of online credentials, verified for proof under the individual’s control. So, this measure does two things.

“One, it creates the California Trust Framework to ensure the use of verifiable credentials to a standard recognized by both the public and private sector. It takes us down the road the next step. It is time that California engages in this. And then…it’s about high school students where they can use the blockchain to verify their high school records as they want to move on to use them for other purposes, college or the like, again trying to educate the next generation in that regard.“

Rose stated:

“Thank you for letting me speak in support of SB 1190… What excites me most about this space is the ability to use technology in a way that unlocks the ability for individuals. I know this technology can provide great benefits when in action. In my role as head of product at IOG, we are deploying a digital identity solution for five million high school students.

“In Ethiopia, we are partnered with the ministry of education in Ethiopia in order to create a system for students that would offer greater flexibility throughout their lives. Starting this fall, we will enroll one million 11-th graders and over the next five years, we’ll develop that ecosystem. Starting with high school diplomas, expanding to higher education, and other career pathways and eventually financial services.

“In addition to Ethiopia, many other countries, including Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia are starting to adopt trust frameworks. This enables partnerships between the public and private sectors to create more opportunity for individuals to move throughout their lives with the benefit of owning, holding, and controlling their digital identity data.

“What excites you the most about SB 1190 is that, if passed, at this time next year, we’ll be on the path to making it easier for California high school students to own hold and control the academic records and access international opportunities with more ease based upon the recognized high quality of education we provide in our beautiful state.

“Not only that, we will be a place where students from around the world can further their education with the confidence of the academic credentials they’re earning back home meet our standards and will be accepted here. That’s contributing to the diversity of our state and making our economy one of the strongest in the world.

“With this bill, California has an opportunity to lead a path for other states and countries to follow all while protecting the privacy rights of California. I personally, and on behalf of my colleagues at IOG, applaud Senator Hertzberg for bringing this important bill forward.“

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by the author, or any people mentioned in this article, are for informational purposes only, and they do not constitute financial, investment, or other advice. Investing in or trading cryptoassets comes with a risk of financial loss.

Image Credit

Featured Image courtesy of California State Senate

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