System and method for issuing a certificate to permit access to information

A system for issuing a certificate to permit access to information, the system comprising:

• a memory storing a directory that includes identity data, biometric data, and contextual data regarding subscribers;
• an identification service processor module configured to receive dynamic biometric data and dynamic contextual data regarding an individual when that individual is located within an area, and to receive from the memory at least one of stored identity data, biometric data, or contextual data for a given individual so as to provide an identity estimate and a level of certainty indicator of an identity match based on a comparison of the dynamic biometric data and the dynamic contextual data regarding the individual to the stored biometric data and the stored contextual data regarding the subscribers, wherein the level of certainty indicator is determined by weighting the dynamic contextual data according to a related reliability factor;
• a registration authority processor module configured to receive the identity estimate and the level of certainty indicator from the identification service processor module, and to determine that a certificate should be issued to an individual when a level of certainty indicator of a first identity estimate is greater than a predefined level, and the first identity estimate is greater than a second identity estimate by a specific value;
• and
• a certificate authority processor module configured to issue the certificate to a computing device when it is determined that the certificate should be issued, wherein the certificate will allow an individual to use the computing device to access an information system, wherein the identification service processor module is arranged to be external to the computing device.