I'm exploring a new idea called FediOTP (codename): an authentication system that uses #ActivityPub DMs to deliver one-time passwords, allowing any #fediverse account to authenticate with web services. Unlike current solutions that rely on specific APIs (#Mastodon, #Misskey), this would work with any ActivityPub-compatible server, increasing interoperability across the fediverse. Would love to hear your thoughts on potential challenges or use cases for this approach.
For those skeptical of DMs in #ActivityPub: I'm also considering an alternative verification approach using ActivityPub's Question feature. Instead of sending numeric codes, the system could send a poll with several emoji options, and the user would select the one that matches what's displayed on their login screen. This visual authentication method might offer better security against certain automated attacks while still leveraging federation rather than platform-specific APIs. Would this approach address some of the privacy concerns around DM-based verification?
If you have a fediverse account, you can quote this note from your own instance. Search https://hollo.social/@hongminhee/0196702f-74c7-7807-b1f7-d11d30ff3e7d on your instance and quote it. (Note that quoting is not supported in Mastodon.)