Scenario: You are a licensed driver, and the government has issued you a driver’s license. This physical card proves your identity and driving status. The government maintains the authority to issue, renew, or revoke the license.

Self-Custody is Control: You physically possess your driver’s license, but the government retains control over its issuance and validity. The government has the authority to revoke or suspend your license if you fail to meet legal or regulatory requirements. You are responsible for keeping your license valid by following legal guidelines, while the government is responsible for issuing and managing the license database. Enforcement is carried out by law enforcement officers or regulatory agencies, who can verify the status of your license and take action (e.g., suspending it) if necessary.

Self-Custody is a Spectrum: The parties involved are you, the user, and the government. The government has an unfair advantage because they have sole authority over the issuance and validation of the license. You cannot control when it expires or if it gets revoked, meaning your self-custody over the license is low. The system is built in a way that gives you little control, placing you low on the self-custody spectrum.

Self-Custody is Recursive: A driver’s license is often used as a form of identity verification in various legal and financial transactions. Governments hold an unfair advantage over this construct, with the ability to revoke or suspend your license at any time due to policy or legal issues. If your driver’s license is compromised—whether through government action or identity theft—you lose access to dependent constructs like applying for jobs, securing vehicle loans, or obtaining insurance. Moreover, without a valid license, your ability to verify your identity in legal contexts or access government services could be severely hindered. The loss of self-custody over your license impacts not just your ability to drive but also your capacity to function in many aspects of daily life.