How MIR Works

The Scammer Problem

Every platform faces the same dilemma: How do you catch bad actors without creating a surveillance system that harms everyone?

Most solutions try to prove someone is bad—blacklists, bans, fraud scores. These create false positives, punish edge cases, and require platforms to make accusations they can't always prove.

History is neutral. Having it isn't proof you're good. Not having it isn't proof you're bad. But patterns emerge, and context matters.

Two Types of People

Here's what MIR doesn't do: accuse anyone. A blank profile isn't a red flag—it's just blank. But blank isn't neutral anymore. It's the absence of signal, and that absence is itself information.

Market Pressure Without Accusations

When history becomes portable, something interesting happens:

For people who want trust

Good actors can now prove they're not new. Your 5 years of perfect eBay feedback follows you to Facebook Marketplace. Your track record on one freelance platform opens doors on another. Trust becomes an asset you accumulate and carry.

For people avoiding trust

Bad actors face a choice: build real history (which means behaving well), or stay blank forever. Staying blank used to be free—everyone started at zero. Now, staying blank while others build history puts you at a disadvantage.

What We Don't Do

Understanding what MIR isn't is as important as understanding what it is:

• We don't rate or judge people. We record verified events. Platforms interpret history and make their own decisions.
• We don't force linking. You choose what history to make visible. But declining to link is visible too.
• We don't track you across the web. We only see interactions on partner platforms you've engaged with.
• We don't sell accusations. A platform can't look up random people. They can only query users they already know.
• We don't create permanent records. Signals age. Patterns matter more than incidents. People can rebuild.

How Identity Linking Works

A common question: does everyone need to use the same user ID everywhere? No. Each platform keeps their own system.

The linking process

• Partners submit events with their IDs. Each platform uses whatever user IDs they already have.
• You create a MIR account. One identity that belongs to you.
• You link your accounts. Via a secure token or verification code, you prove "I'm ebay-user-12345 AND etsy-shop-abc."
• History merges. Now your eBay reputation supports your Etsy credibility—without either platform sharing your actual IDs with each other.

Partners never see each other's user IDs. They only see the aggregated reputation signals you've chosen to make portable. Your identity stays yours.

You've Seen This Before

The concept isn't new. MIR applies a proven pattern to internet trust:

• 💳 Credit history You can't get a mortgage without years of payment history. Having no credit history isn't illegal—but it limits your options.
• 🎓 Academic transcripts Your grades follow you from school to school. A blank transcript isn't disqualifying—but it raises questions.
• 💼 Employment references Past employers vouch for your work. No references isn't a crime—but employers notice.
• ✅ Verified badges LinkedIn, Twitter, others verify identity. Being unverified isn't bad—but verified users get more trust.

MIR brings this pattern to the places that need it most: marketplaces, freelance platforms, rentals, communities—anywhere strangers transact.

The Bottom Line