Digital identity: an approach to its nature, concept, and functionalities

Digital identity is a basic component of the knowledge economy and society. It is the key for accessing the digital world and for carrying out commercial, economic, or any kind of transactions and communications. Far from being a merely digital version of the physical identity, digital identity is a singular and complex construct which poses three main dilemmas that provide the framework for its analysis. The first arises from the context in which it is located, the digital ecosystem, that changes its scope and nature. The second, conceptual, is a consequence of the lack of agreement about its definition but also of the different legal framework derived from it. A third dilemma, functional, is due to the fact that digital identity can fulfil different, even contradictory, functionalities. An analysis of these dilemmas can contribute to a better understanding of this category leading to a proposal for its definition and legal framework.