System and methods for access control in a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network are based on a user identity. A control point has an identity assertion capability for identifying a user. The control point is configured to declare a value of an attribute associated with the identity assertion capability. A device is communicatively coupled to the control point via the UPnP network. The device has a first access control list and a trusted-to-identify access control list (TIA). The device is configured to permit the user to perform one or more actions based upon whether the user identity appears as a subject in the first access control list.