Security & Privacy
Proof of personhood
A way to show that an account belongs to a person, sometimes without revealing exactly who they are.
Example
A service uses a credential to reduce duplicate automated participation.
Why people use it
It helps services limit automated or duplicate participation by checking that a person is involved.
What you'll hear
“How does this service check that I'm a real person?”
What this means for you
Examine privacy, exclusion risks and the credential's actual guarantees.
Can you control it?
No
No direct control. This describes a wider issue, concept or result rather than something you can simply switch on or off in a tool.
Common questions
- Does proof of personhood always disclose a legal identity?
- No. Designs differ in what is proved and what personal data is revealed.
- Can a check exclude a genuine person?
- Yes. Access, documentation or technical requirements can make participation difficult for some people.
- Does proving personhood establish that a message is true?
- No. A real person can still post false or misleading information.