Toward verifiable human provenance in digital ecosystems

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/me354486

Keywords:

Digital identity, Human provenance, Generative AI, Bots and automated agents, Epistemic trust, Digital governance, Sustainable digital infrastructure

Abstract

The exponential growth of automated identities and generative AI content has triggered a multidimensional crisis of epistemic trust, economic asymmetry, and ecological strain. This paper introduces the World Population Identifier (WPI), a neutral, privacy‑preserving, and interoperable socio‑technical framework designed to restore verifiable human provenance across digital ecosystems, enable consent‑based mechanisms for presence‑derived value, and reduce incentives for uncontrolled bot proliferation. The architecture integrates national attestation anchors, decentralized identifiers, verifiable credentials, and post‑quantum cryptography with selective disclosure mechanisms. Beyond its technical design, the WPI incorporates governance principles of neutrality, transparency, and Global South leadership, alongside explicit environmental accountability. Educationally, it advances epistemic literacy through STEAM‑oriented curricula that equip learners to critically assess provenance and resist disinformation. By situating the framework within diverse contexts, the study contributes to theory and practice, offering a pathway toward sustainable identity infrastructures and inclusive digital trust.

Author Biography

  • Alberto Rafael Roman Soltero, Universidad Vizcaya de las Américas, Mexico

    ALBERTO RAFAEL ROMAN SOLTERO, BEng, MSc, DrPH, is a Professor-Researcher at Vizcaya University of Americas, where he works within a multidisciplinary profile integrating Data Science, Mathematics, Psychology, Pedagogy, and theoretical approaches related to Physics and Astronomy. He is also a scientific researcher and science communicator at edemi, a Mexican multidisciplinary research collective and innovation center, where his work focuses on neurodiversity, neurodevelopmental conditions, inclusive health, and applied assistive technologies. Email: rafaroman@edemi.mx

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Additional Files

Published

2026-05-26

Issue

Vol. 22 (2026): American Journal of STEM Education

Section

STEAM Education: Hearing the Voices from the Global South

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Alberto Rafael Roman Soltero

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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How to Cite

Roman Soltero, A. R. (2026). Toward verifiable human provenance in digital ecosystems. American Journal of STEM Education, 22, 114-131. https://doi.org/10.32674/me354486