Frequently Asked Questions

Answers for researchers, institutions, and policymakers on the future of research integrity.


For Individual Researchers

As a researcher, do I have to share my name or personal data to use Ensan ID?

No. Ensan ID is built on a zero-PII (Personally Identifiable Information) principle. The system uses a cryptographic zero-knowledge proof to verify your status as a human researcher with a pre-2020 publication record without ever requiring you to disclose your name, email, biometrics, or other identifiers. Your privacy is absolute.

Can my research activities be tracked across different publishers or funders?

No. The system is architected to be stateless and uses epoch-based nullifiers. This means each proof (or 'capsule') you generate is cryptographically unlinkable to any other. Your activity on one platform cannot be connected to your activity on another, preventing any form of tracking or profiling.

I am an early-career researcher with publications after 2020. How can I become eligible?

The pre-2020 requirement establishes a foundational, high-trust network based on a pre-generative AI baseline. We are actively developing Phase 2 eligibility pathways that will integrate next-generation, privacy-preserving identity verification technologies. This will allow newer researchers to qualify without compromising our core zero-PII principles.

For Institutions, Insurers & Analysts

How does Ensan ID reduce our institution's financial and reputational risk from fraud?

Ensan ID provides a cryptographic, non-repudiable audit trail linking every piece of content to an accountable human researcher. This eliminates the threat of 'synthetic researchers' and paper mills, ensuring grant funding and institutional resources are directed only to legitimate individuals. For insurers, it creates a verifiable standard of due diligence, reducing liability and allowing for more accurate risk pricing for research misconduct policies.

Can an Ensan ID signature be used as legal evidence in a misconduct investigation?

Yes. An Ensan ID capsule is designed to be a legally binding electronic signature under major international frameworks, including the UK's Electronic Communications Act 2000 and the EU's eIDAS Regulation. Its cryptographic integrity, timestamp, and non-repudiable nature provide robust evidential weight in institutional, regulatory, or judicial proceedings.

How does this standard affect the valuation of our intellectual property (IP) portfolio?

Ensan ID strengthens the provenance of your IP assets. For IP valuation analysts and in M&A due diligence, the ability to cryptographically prove that R&D outputs are backed by accountable human experts, rather than unverified AI, is a significant value multiplier. It provides a concrete audit trail of human authorship, which is critical for the defensibility of patents and copyrights.

For Policymakers & Lawmakers

How does Ensan ID align with emerging AI regulations and national R&D integrity goals?

Ensan ID provides a ready-made technical framework for enforcing human accountability—a cornerstone of nearly all forthcoming AI regulations. For policymakers, it offers a bottom-up, market-driven standard that promotes responsible AI adoption without stifling innovation. It directly supports national interests by protecting the integrity of the R&D ecosystem from foreign and domestic fraud, ensuring public funds for science are safeguarded.

For Technologists & Digital Privacy Experts

Is Ensan ID just another centralized identity system that could be compromised?

No. This is the critical distinction. Ensan ID is a 'stateless' and decentralized verification system. There is no central database of users to attack or compromise. The 'proof' of identity resides with the user. Verification is an independent event that checks the validity of a self-contained cryptographic proof, not a user's status in a central server. This architecture is fundamentally more secure and privacy-preserving than any centralized model.

What prevents a 'Sybil attack', where one person creates multiple Ensan IDs?

The eligibility criteria—a verifiable pre-2020 publication record—acts as the primary defense against Sybil attacks. This record is a scarce, time-gated resource that cannot be easily fabricated. An individual would need to have authored multiple distinct, legitimate scholarly identities before 2020, which is practically impossible. The system's trust is anchored to this real-world, finite constraint.