The idea of “COVID-19 passports” brings challenges in the scientific, legal, and ethical fields. Issues include counterfeiting and security of personal data, as well as durability related to the protection conferred by vaccines. In an ideal scenario, it would be highly desirable to establish international standardization for these passports, ensuring that they incorporate verifiable credentials supported by interoperable technologies. Concerns of an ethical and legal nature arise in relation to the provision of passports to those for whom immunization is either objectionable, unverified, unattainable, or unfeasible, arguing that such individuals are precluded from obtaining any vital commodities and/or services. The paper discusses the maneuvers and decrees implemented by the Italian government regarding the use of vaccination certificates and examples of fraud related to the creation of fake green passes. It also presents BOOGIE, a solution based on a research blockchain technology that ensures trust and eliminates unsuitable features for the circulation of certificates of immunity from COVID-19 and medical passports usable in the Italian context.
BOOGIE: A New Blockchain Application for Health Certificate Security
Vito Nicola Convertini;Vincenzo DentamaroConceptualization
;Donato Impedovo;Ugo Lopez;Michele Scalera;Andrea Viccari
2024-01-01
Abstract
The idea of “COVID-19 passports” brings challenges in the scientific, legal, and ethical fields. Issues include counterfeiting and security of personal data, as well as durability related to the protection conferred by vaccines. In an ideal scenario, it would be highly desirable to establish international standardization for these passports, ensuring that they incorporate verifiable credentials supported by interoperable technologies. Concerns of an ethical and legal nature arise in relation to the provision of passports to those for whom immunization is either objectionable, unverified, unattainable, or unfeasible, arguing that such individuals are precluded from obtaining any vital commodities and/or services. The paper discusses the maneuvers and decrees implemented by the Italian government regarding the use of vaccination certificates and examples of fraud related to the creation of fake green passes. It also presents BOOGIE, a solution based on a research blockchain technology that ensures trust and eliminates unsuitable features for the circulation of certificates of immunity from COVID-19 and medical passports usable in the Italian context.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
