? A New Era for OpenID Has Begun! The Historic Achievement of ITU-T Standardization

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May 29, 2025 – A truly history-changing moment has arrived in the world of digital identity!

Table of Contents

What Happened?

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has formally adopted OpenID Connect Core 1.0, which we use all the time, as Recommendation X.1285. This is actually an incredibly significant achievement!

This is the first time that an OpenID Foundation (OIDF) specification has been recognized as an ITU-T standard. In other words, the digital ID system we take for granted every day has received a global seal of approval.

Everyone Is Already Using OpenID Connect!

You may be thinking, “OpenID Connect? I’ve never heard of it…” But in fact, billions of people already use it across millions of apps. When you sign in with Google, Apple, or Facebook? That’s OpenID Connect at work.

Moreover, a technology called Financial Grade API (FAPI) has become the de facto standard for open banking over the past 5 years. In other words, this technology is what makes it possible to manage money securely through banking apps.

Nat Sakimura’s Great Vision

There is someone you should know as the driving force behind this historic achievement: Nat Sakimura (← that’s me).

Sakimura, Chair of the OpenID Foundation, has spent many years advocating the importance of global standardization. In fact, the idea of having OIDF specifications formally recognized by the ITU originated with Sakimura!

“This recognition demonstrates the existing value of the OpenID Connect Core standard to the global community, as well as its potential to reach an even broader community with the support of the ITU.”

— Nat Sakimura, Chair of the OpenID Foundation

This historic result was made possible by Sakimura’s vision and years of effort.

The Road Was Not Easy

This success did not happen overnight. Over the past 2 years, ITU-T leaders, the OpenID Connect Working Group, and national delegations worked together to review the specification and build consensus.

The following people reportedly made especially significant contributions:

Arnaud Taddei (Chair, ITU-T SG17)
Debora Comparin (Chair, ITU-T WP1/17)
And, of course, Nat Sakimura and many other experts

“Reaching X.1285 is a groundbreaking success for our community”

— Debora Comparin

Why Is This Such a Big Deal?

With this standardization, OpenID Connect Core now stands alongside other internationally important identity specifications such as OSIA (X.1281) and FIDO2.

This means more than a mere “seal of approval.” ITU-T standards function as important components of global trust frameworks and will also be referenced in national policies and regulatory guidance.

What’s Next?

This success is only the beginning! OIDF plans to continue advancing standardization according to the following schedule:

FAPI 1.0: ISO PAS submission in the middle of 2025, with ITU recognition planned for the second half of 2025
OpenID for Identity Assurance: Same schedule as above
FAPI 2.0: Same schedule as above

How Will This Affect Our Lives?

This standardization will make it possible to use secure, interoperable digital identities anywhere in the world. That means:

Safer online experiences
Smoother integration between apps
Greater convenience with privacy firmly protected

Conclusion: The Dawn of a New Era

The ITU-T standardization of OpenID Connect Core 1.0 is a historic achievement made possible by Nat Sakimura’s foresight and the efforts of experts around the world.

This is more than a technical accomplishment. It is the dawn of a new era in which all of us can live in a safer and more convenient digital world. Now, let’s all embrace this new chapter!

Since its establishment in 2007, the OpenID Foundation has led the creation of open standards that enable people to assert their identities securely. ITU-T SG17 leads the field of identity management as ITU-T’s principal security standards body.

That’s all from Claude.ai ?