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Obama Administration Proposes Unique Internet ID for Every American

In the coming months, the Obama administration is planning on passing a new proposal, the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, to the U.S. Commerce Department regarding a national “cybersecurity measure” that will aim to give each U.S. citizen their own unique Internet ID, but U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke assures us, “We are not talking about a national ID card.”

Locke explains:

“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.”

Other than the proposed idea and Locke’s assurances, there really aren’t many details to the project, other than the potential for a government-controlled system to emerge from the unique Internet ID project–which would probably be a bad thing–or a convenient way to access anything and everything on the Internet, using one simple unique ID–which would actually be a good thing.

However, even if the unique ID is simply that–and not some creepy national ID card–one must wonder what’ll happen if said ID becomes compromised. Most secure modern day Internet users use a few different passwords and logins for various accounts, so at least if one account becomes compromised, the rest of them may not; however, if there’s only one ID for everything on the Internet and that becomes compromised, the Internet suddenly becomes an even more terrifying place than it already is.

(CBS News via Engadget)

  • http://twitter.com/JERdesign Jeremy Senko

    This already exists. There is software all over the web to help “the need to memorize a dozen passwords.” It’s a lame excuse, and you can hear George Orwell slowly starting to laugh in the distance…….

  • http://twitter.com/Gauldar Rob

    I think these Big Brother conspiracy theories are a load of crap, but I don’t like the idea of logging the publics digital identity. This sounds like it could make identity theft easier, and wiki leaks is proving that governments are too lax on security of information.

  • Orthodude99

    Give me a friggin break.This is the same thing that Sen. Ted Stevens was trying to do…make anonymous access of the internet impossible by closing down the public library terminals. Is mostly child molesters use these anyway, he said.

  • Anonymous

    I like the concept, actually. But sadly, it’s true that there is no organization that could set this up and regulate it effectively. The biggest thing for me is to reduce the number of anonymous hackers, predators, con-artists, thieves, and other criminals that lurk on the internet. This is one theory, but I think we need something else.

  • Orthodude99

    Good. Well then, guess everything is just swell in the good ol USA. I hope China puts us out of our fat, ignorant, disgusting (miss anything?) misery soon. Where did these assholes come from? Oh and Rob…long live Assange!

  • http://twitter.com/Gauldar Rob

    I never said I liked Wikileaks, what I’m saying is it just proves that government inadequate to handle this sensitive information.

  • http://twitter.com/Gauldar Rob

    Exactly!

  • http://www.wildworldofpests.com hdcase3rd

    It sounds like a good idea at first, but this is another attempt at controlling the populace and squelching free speech. The ultimate aim is to silence opposing political views. The camels nose is in the tent!

  • Anonymous

    Of course it is not a card, it is an electric file. And of course it is not national, it is just for every person in America.

  • Ikkle_zasha

    They tried bringing in National ID cards in the UK, it failed horribly.

    I can only imagine what they would make of peoples browsing habbits, get more dirt on Assange perhaps :)

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BRMRZBENNHBKIKUN55QV6VTKZA Bill

    Since I don’t have anything to hide, and don’t do anything that could even be percieved as illegal, and the fact that I never get victimized because I don’t have anything anybody wants, this issue is pretty meaningless to me personally. I know that the international business community must eventually get involved, and the intense negotiations will be very interesting.

  • Joe

    Here’s what I think. This country is projected to be a free nation. Freedom is not bought by injecting the poison that is called fear. Enhanced fear to enhance security and privacy by being getting tracked in a communist regime. Give liberty or give me a break. OB is BS and GW2 is BS.

  • Stellaweaver42

    this makes me think of Ender’s Game for some reason…

  • Anonymous

    Who would had guessed that 1984 would really happen in 2011!!! Big Brother is getting closer by the minute!!!

  • Dancoinia

    It used to be that Democrats wanted to control your wallet, and Republicans, your mind. Now they both want to share. Scary! Fight this measure and fight it hard or you will be living in a nightmare sooner rather than later.

  • james braselton

    hi there i dont like the idear have you watched minority report thats our future i see were goverment can take over minds with out your permision

  • http://twitter.com/Gauldar Rob

    Not only do we have to worry about loosing our jobs to mice with human brains, but now this!

  • Michael Holland

    When I was a small child I had a library card that provided me with a unique ID for the Queensboro Public Library, in Queens, New York. Like Jerry Seinfeld in the well-known television show episode, I received an overdue notice, but, unlike his character on the show, I never borrowed the book in question. So I learned at any early age that identification systems have problems. To me, NTSIC looks like a hot mess.


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