One way of remote vetting a researcher (as opposed to a non-researcher or a commercial actor) is to rely on several hints just based on a verified email address - of course if no better options are available. 

• the email server, or the domain of that server is hosted on a GEANT member network, and that network has a policy, we know that the emails is supposed to be an academic email address
• if the domain shows up in eduGAIN metadata, that is a further hint that this is an academic address
• if it is an IdP scope, I have even better validation
• it may be possible that there is a CERT I can access with TERENA organization in it
• if the email features on publications that is a further clue

We may be able to create a service that complements remote vetting beyond establishing the identity, to establish the bona fide quality of the person. Such a service would be in great demand at remote academic collaboration, like one-shot publishing at a journal

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