Identità digitale e intelligenza artificiale: tra regolazione, poteri asimmetrici e sfide per il futuro

Digital identity has become a key component of today’s socio-digital landscape, shaping new power dynamics in systems governed by artificial intelligence. The growing reliance on technologies such as blockchain, biometrics, and facial recognition algorithms raises complex legal challenges, ranging from privacy protection to the risks of algorithmic discrimination. This study explores the role of legal and technical regulations in the construction of digital identity, examining how digital infrastructures influence the authentication process and an individual’s inclusion within a virtual community. A particular focus is given to the power mechanisms embedded in AI systems, highlighting critical issues related to facial recognition, biometric data governance, and their implications for fundamental rights. Additionally, we assess potential regulatory frameworks aimed at mitigating power imbalances in digital identity management, with special attention to emerging European and international regulations. The approach adopted is interdisciplinary, combining legal analysis, philosophy of law, and computational sciences to outline both the challenges and opportunities for a fair and sustainable governance of digital identity.