- Buenos Aires has launched a digital identity service called QuarkID that uses zero-knowledge proofs
- The service allows privacy by verifying documents without revealing personal data
- QuarkID will expand nationally, with pilot programs implemented in other Argentine regions
The City of Buenos Aires has unveiled a pioneering digital identity service called QuarkID, which aims to enhance residents' privacy through advanced encryption technology known as zero-knowledge proofs.
The QuarkID app has been integrated into the miBA app, a platform that has facilitated access to municipal services over the past seven years, and seeks to give nearly 3.6 million people greater control over their personal information.
Zero-knowledge proofs allow users to verify the authenticity of documents without revealing unnecessary personal data. For example, residents can confirm their age when purchasing alcohol without revealing their full date of birth or address.
This approach is designed to empower citizens by providing a self-sovereign identity system that prioritizes privacy and security.
“The decision from the beginning was to create a self-sovereign identity system so that citizens can have privacy and security regarding the documents they own,” said Diego Fernández, Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation of Buenos Aires.
While zero-knowledge proofs can operate independently of blockchain technology, QuarkID uses Ethereum Layer 2 network ZKsync Era, which acts as a “security anchor”. This ensures that data can be proven to exist in a specific form and at a specific time, thus reducing the risk of identity theft and fraud.
Users can upload more than 60 types of documents, including birth certificates and vaccination records, and additional documents are expected to be added in the coming months. Importantly, no third party, including the municipality, has control over these documents, which significantly mitigates the risk of data breaches.
The initiative promises to reduce costs for the government compared to traditional methods of document management, and the pilot is set to extend beyond Buenos Aires to regions such as Jujuy and Tucuman, as well as small towns such as Luján de Cuyo.
Fernandez stressed the possibility of expansion at the national level, noting that the technology developed in Buenos Aires could be implemented throughout Argentina and even in other Latin American countries, such as Uruguay.