Just like apps and websites implement “Sign in with Apple” and Google couldn’t we build some kind of federated authentication provider? Then everyone creates an account there and fedi apps can implement an easy way to authenticate users. Even non fedi apps could use it. I imagine user interaction between different fediverse platforms would be much easier too.
I guess could run an auth instance. Ideally everyone would run their own, keeping your data safe.
Is there something likes this already? Saw some discussion here but not much else https://socialhub.activitypub.rocks/t/single-sign-on-for-fediverse/712
Also doesn’t this comes against the decentralization principles of the fediverse?
I imagine the auth provider could be decentralised too
I have a hard time wrapping my head around this one. If you “federate” authentication, wouldn’t that just open it up to bad actors?
Well right now Pixelfed has a sign in with mastodon button for example. Admittedly, I don’t know the details but I don’t think anything is stopping me from running my own mastodon instance just to sign up for Pixelfed.
I agree it might be a nightmare to manage tho if everyone has their own instance but that would probably not be the case.