Moreover, the ePortfolio raises the issue of how can one person control his/her personal data? The following quote from Adam Bosworth, Google Vice-President, in a speech to the 2007 AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association) clearly states that it is the individual who should be the sole owner:
"The vision for the future of health care starts with the premise that consumers should own their own total personal health and wellness data and that only consumers, not insurers, not the government, not employers and not even doctors, but only consumers should have complete control over how it is used"
This vision of personal ownership of personal data applies to domains beyond healthcare: professional records, learning records, employment and administrative records. This is why we, EIfEL, believe that:
"The vision for the future of ubiquitous digital technology starts with the premise that citizens, learners, employees, patients and consumers should own their own total personal data and that only individuals, not institutions, not the government, not employers or companies, but only citizens should have complete mastery over how it is used. Digital identity education is now becoming an issue as critical as physical and moral education."
Education and learning is about constructing one's identity and a growing part of one's identity is now digital. While until now, digital edution has mainly be concerned with the mastery of digital skills (the International/European Computer Driving Licence) it is now time to address the issue of digital competencies to manage one's digital identity, i.e educate citizens to be able to use proactively technology to develop and exploit their identity.
