A cardano blockchain prototype for migrant data security and cultural heritage preservation

Abstract

This thesis investigates the challenges faced by migrants in managing and sharing personal data during migration processes, as well as the potential privacy, security, and data sovereignty risks that may arise from poor data management practices or malicious actors. It further examines the difficulties migrants face in preserving their cultural heritage within their host countries.

Migrants are often required to disclose extensive personal and sensitive information to immigration authorities and associated organisations, which raises significant concerns regarding data privacy, data security, and data sovereignty. These issues may result in adverse outcomes, including misuse of data, loss of control over personal information, and the loss of cultural identity. To better understand these challenges, a study was conducted with twenty migrants to explore their experiences with documentation procedures, their awareness of potential privacy risks, and their perspectives on safeguarding cultural heritage information.

Based on insights from existing literature and the findings of the study, this thesis proposes a Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and Verifiable Credentials (VC) based system that enables paperless and secure data sharing and management in a decentralised manner among stakeholders involved in the migration process. The proposed solution also includes a mechanism that allows migrants to securely store information related to their cultural heritage using a decentralised approach and independently issue Verifiable Credentials. The system utilises the Cardano blockchain, Hyperledger Identus, and the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) to ensure decentralisation, privacy protection, data security, data sovereignty, and data integrity. A prototype was developed to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach and was informally evaluated by a small group of migrant users to assess the usability and acceptance of the proposed system.