# The Problem with Centralized Identity Models Most digital identity systems today are centralized. Government databases, corporate platforms, and social media providers store and manage your credentials, often **without your full understanding or consent**. When one of these databases is breached, millions of identities can be compromised at once. The [2017 Equifax breach](https://www.breachsense.com/blog/equifax-data-breach) exposed the personal information of over 145 million people in the United States alone. **Victims could not revoke their leaked data. They had no way to opt out or erase it.** **Centralized models create honeypots for hackers** and force users to trust third parties with the most sensitive aspects of their identity—birthdates, Social Security numbers, biometric data. The problem is not just security. **It is lack of control.** Your data is stored by someone else, used in ways you do not always see, and sometimes shared or sold without your permission. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://hub.bsvblockchain.org/higher-learning/bsv-academy/identity-and-privacy-foundations/from-identity-theft-to-control-rethinking-personal-data-ownership/the-problem-with-centralized-identity-models.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.