The state of Illinois’ Blockchain Initiative has hooked up with digital ledger company Evernym in hopes of leading the way in creating a digital ID ecosystem, and they’re starting with birth certificates.

Digital privacy experts differ on if it’s a good or bad move.

…

Stanford Law School Center for Internet and Society Director of Privacy Albert Gidari agreed that blockchain is secure and Illinois’ move allows individuals to have better control over their government-issued ID.

“Who you are depends on who the government says you are,” Gidari said, “and this really changes that dynamic and gives you data portability.”

Gidari joked to not think of this as a dystopian future novel the likes of “A Brave New World,” but rather to think of it as a “better brave new world.”

…

Gidari said once implemented, it could ultimately save taxpayers money because governments wouldn’t have to store physical copies of documents, it could all be logged on the blockchain.