Obama Eyeing Internet ID for Americans

President Obama is planning to hand the U.S. Commerce Department authority over a forthcoming cybersecurity effort to create an Internet ID for Americans, a White House official said here today.

Not cool Obama :|

"identity ecosystem"... what?

If it's just for banks and financial things it could be fine.

But you know... the slippery slope and all that. :P

If the U.S. government knew the majority of my internet history, they would give me the ID number 69.

If the U.S. government knew the majority of my internet history, they would give me the ID number 69.

entropyecho

If the U.S. government knew the majority of my internet history, they would give me the ID number 69.entropyecho

"We are not talking about a government-controlled system. What we are talking about is enhancing online security and privacy and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorize a dozen passwords, through creation and use of more trusted digital identities."

Details about the "trusted identity" project are unusually scarce.

OMG NOEZ DE GOVERNMENT WILL HAZ CONTROL OVER US

I don't see a big deal, either. It doesn't matter to me, being from a different country and all, but that actually sounds like something pragmatic.

I don't want my password connected to my name and thus to me. I generally don't even use my real name to sign up. This bothers me. As a "if you want", sure. As a "you must do this"? No. Then that does sound sinister.

[QUOTE="ice144"]Did you read the article? "We are not talking about a national ID card," Locke said at the Stanford event. "We are not talking about a government-controlled system. What we are talking about is enhancing online security and privacy and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorize a dozen passwords, through creation and use of more trusted digital identities." Doesn't seem that bad to me, but whatever.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="ice144"]Did you read the article? "We are not talking about a national ID card," Locke said at the Stanford event. "We are not talking about a government-controlled system. What we are talking about is enhancing online security and privacy and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorize a dozen passwords, through creation and use of more trusted digital identities." Doesn't seem that bad to me, but whatever.Thunda_Monkey

I'm not American but this could help (IMO) when it comes to banking and financial security reasons online.

[QUOTE="Thunda_Monkey"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Seems like it would be easier for the government to collect data on individuals. Trusted identities from the government? Do we really trust the government with that info?LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Seems like it would be easier for the government to collect data on individuals. Trusted identities from the government? Do we really trust the government with that info?LJS9502_basic

"These digital IDs would be offered to consumers by online vendors for financial transactions.

Schmidt stressed today that anonymity and pseudonymity will remain possible on the Internet. "I don't have to get a credential if I don't want to," he said. There's no chance that "a centralized database will emerge," and "we need the private sector to lead the implementation of this," he said."

Sounds like it's not going to be required so I don't see what all the fuss is about.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="Theokhoth"] I trust them with my social security number, so yeah.Theokhoth

What the hell is the government going to do with such info?Thunda_Monkey

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Considering it's a government identification number that doesn't say much. LJS9502_basic

this is just another case of "big brother" controlling our lives.

[QUOTE="scorch-62"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Nonetheless it isn't a good analogy since it's government identification by definition. And don't think the gov can't find out more than you know by tracking that number if they so desire. However, it's a necessary evil as it's the identification the government assigns and requires. Not quite the same thing as handing over other information they have no need to know.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="scorch-62"] Um, wat. And the 'net ID isn't?scorch-62

[QUOTE="scorch-62"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"] Not what I said. They have a tax identification number. They have no need to assign an internet ID. None at all.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="scorch-62"] Not what you said? That was a direct quote. :?scorch-62

Provided that it isn't mandatory that my name is connected to my internet accounts, it should be fine.