Humanitech · Elizabeth Garber
Papers, whitepapers, essays, talks, and commentary connecting identity technology to policy, governance, and human rights.
Publications
Identity Systems for Human Rights
United Nations Universal Framework for Digital Public Infrastructure. Rapporteur (Adoption Pathways) and Working Group Member.
World Building Essay on Digital Public Infrastructure as world-building — the values encoded, intentionally or not, in the systems we build. Written for the DPI Safeguards Working Group. Author 2025
Human-Centric Digital Identity: for Government Officials OpenID Foundation · Whitepaper · with Mark Haine (eds.)A primer on designing identity systems that sustain and promote human rights; co-branded by twelve non-profits. Co-editor 2023
Inclusion:
SIDI Hub Reports Sustainable & Interoperable Digital Identity (SIDI) Hub. Author and editor across the SIDI Hub body of work as Programme Lead — spanning the Champion Use Case and Trust Framework workstreams, the Summit reports (Cape Town, Berlin, Washington D.C., Tokyo), and the annual reports. Programme lead 2023–25
GAIN in 2023 OpenID Foundation · with N. Mothershaw, S. de Labriolle & D. ComparinA six-organization review of progress toward interoperable high-trust identity networks. Co-author 2023
GAIN Digital Trust How financial institutions can establish a Global Assured Identity Network — a “no logo, pro bono” collaboration between 150+ identity experts. Lead editor 2021
Interoperability
Financial Times · Award-winning essay, published in the Financial Times, about the value of inclusion in tech.
Talks & appearances
Selected published keynotes, sessions, panels, and podcasts.
- Lies, Damned Lies, and Privacy Identiverse 2026
- Stewardship Over Heroics: Governing Identity for the Long Term with Kay Chopard and Michele Tomasic, Identiverse 2026
- From Accidental Admin to Strategic Leader: Navigating your Identity Career with Ian Glazer, Jen Schreiber, Ann Jones, Paul Templeman, and Michele Bustamante, Identiverse 2026
- EIC 2026 Keynote: Identity and a changing United States European Identity & Cloud Conference, Berlin Keynote 2026
- What Makes an Identity System Ethical? Identity at the Center Podcast 2026
- /.well-known/ podcast Episode 1 – Death is not an Edge Case Host, with Heather Flanagan, Mike Kiser, and Dean Saxe
- /.well-known/ podcast Episode 2 – When the Client is a Mind, with Tobin South
- EIC 2025: Identity Exclusion in the United States European Identity & Cloud Conference, Berlin 2025
- Building a Digital Commons for Identity: the SIDI Hub Identiverse · with Gail Hodges Conference 2025
- Common Schemas & the SIDI Hub European Identity & Cloud Conference (EIC) Masterclass 2024
- GAIN: The Latest UpdatesLet’s Talk About Digital Identity, Ep. 95 · with Mark Haine Podcast 2023
- Digital Identity for a Digital EconomyFuture Identity North America Panel 2022
- Launching the Global Assured Identity Network (GAIN) Let’s Talk About Digital Identity, Ep. 52 Podcast 2021
- Digital Identity: The Global Assured Identity Network IIF Finance, Regulation & Technology, Ep. 109 · with Gail Hodges Podcast 2021
Articles & commentary
Shorter pieces, columns, and reflections.
- Standards as Safeguards OpenID Foundation · Reflection from UN DPI Day On open standards as essential safeguards for digital public infrastructure, written as a member of the 2025 UNDP DPI Safeguards Working Group. Article 2025
- OpenID Foundation Blog – oversees the publication of articles on the OpenID Blog
- Digital Identity Round-Up – oversees the OpenID Foundation · Recurring digest. A regular round-up of global digital identity developments, curated for the OpenID Foundation community. Contributor/Oversight. Column 2024–2026
For collaborations, speaking, or the full body of work, get in touch.
