Integrate Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) for Censorship-Resistant, Portable User Identities · Issue #5942 · LemmyNet/lemmy
github.com
Requirements Is this a feature request? For questions or discussions use https://lemmy.ml/c/lemmy_support or the matrix chat. Did you check to see if this issue already exists? Is this only a featu...

Here’s an idea to make Lemmy even better: true account portability.

Right now, your Lemmy account and all your content are tied to one server. Moving instances or having one shut down means losing your digital presence. Frankly, the server controls your online identity.

But what if you controlled your identity?

I’ve opened a discussion on the Lemmy dev GitHub about integrating Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs). Think of a DID as a permanent, global ID you own, independent of any server.

Why DIDs are a game-changer for Lemmy:

  • Real Account Portability: Move your entire account – posts, comments, followers – to any new instance seamlessly. Your identity travels with you.
  • More User Control: Your online presence becomes resilient, managed by an ID you control, not governed by a single server’s policies.
  • Proven Tech: It works. Protocols like ATProto (Bluesky) successfully use DIDs for portable user identities.
  • Full Fediverse Compatibility: We can add DIDs to Lemmy while staying fully interoperable with Mastodon, Kbin, and all other ActivityPub platforms. No breaking changes, just a powerful upgrade.

This is a big step towards a more decentralized and user-controlled fediverse. If you’re interested in more control over your digital self, check out the discussion:

[GitHub Issue: https://github.com/LemmyNet/lemmy/issues/5942]

If you’re on other ActivityPub platforms, consider pushing for similar solutions! The more platforms that adopt truly portable identity, the stronger the fediverse becomes.

  • muntedcrocodile@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    82·
    3 days ago

    No thats the whole point of a DID. Its an existing standard that has been established to manage decentralised identity. Their exists multiple ways to handle it so a did is did:source:id where the source can be many different things blue-sky uses a group of trusted identity server, but u can use a selhosted file, the blocckchain all sorts of things. Hell u could even use bluesky u could have the same login for ATproto (bluesky) and activpub (lemmy)

    • Spooky Mulder@twun.ioEnglish
      91·
      3 days ago

      The way this comment is written doesn’t sound anything like the OP or the GitHub issue. Different tone, different dialect/spelling… lot of linguistic red flags. Not that I’m judging either way, it’s just suspicious how vastly different they are.