Open identity systems: what will succeed?

Dave discusses the challenges of open identity systems, noting that while many systems allow the use of open IDs, few actually accept them. He suggests this is due to the incentives for system operators to control user identities and data, as this is how they generate value. OpenID and similar approaches are unlikely to gain widespread adoption, he says, as dominant tech companies like Google and Facebook have little incentive to support open standards that could reduce their control. Instead, he believes a more lightweight, user-driven approach like Twitter may have a better chance of succeeding, as it allows for open development of client applications without requiring user migration from existing platforms.