White House mulls idea of mandatory ID cards for Web users

This piece was originally published in October of 2011 and somehow, apparently, I missed it. So, I am presenting this for your perusal. The responses should be interesting.

White House mulls idea of mandatory ID cards for Web users

The White House Cyber Security Adviser Howard Schmidt and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke have recently announced a proposal for mandatory virtual ID cards for Internet users, called the “National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace.”

Two additional agencies had been in the running for the proposal, in addition to White House Cyber Security, all willing to prepare a comprehensive strategy meant to improve safety in cyberspace. One was the National Security Agency and the other was Department of Homeland Security.

A one-stop process for online transactions

In its current proposal standing, the proposal for a mandatory Internet ID card is meant for compulsory usage—designed to be used for all government online transactions or online business transactions that will accept it. This will make trailing a person’s online activity a one-step process as it would be centralized, with positive and negative arguments.

We are not talking about a national ID card. 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,” Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said at an event Friday at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, according to Fox News.

FoxNews reports that the idea is causing concern to some, with Jim Dempsey of the Center for Democracy and Technology saying, “The government cannot create that identity infrastructure. If I tried, I wouldn’t be trusted.” In rebuttal, the White House Cyber Security Coordinator, Howard Schmidt, fully endorses the Internet ID cards as, “… ‘the absolute perfect spot in the U.S. government’ to centralize efforts toward creating an ‘identity ecosystem’ for the Internet.”

Privacy and civil-liberties groups

With an early version of the Internet proposal going public on June 25, 2010, the Internet ID card for Americans is being supported by privacy and civil-liberties groups who are concerned over dual roles being played by intelligence agencies and the police departments, in addition to a mounting lack of privacy and online safety.

Others feel it is an infringement on personal privacy and their rights, which doesn’t seem to affect invading hackers, insecure connections or security threats.

A quick scope of the draft “focuses on ways to establish and maintain ‘trusted digital identities,’ a key aspect for improving the security of online transactions.” The transactions involved represent the private sector, individuals and governments—while addressing their international nature if applicable.

Facebook ID cards

As a sign of what’s to come, Facebook has just filed for “Facebook Trademark on business cards and ID cards,” a non-magnetically encoded identity card.

Similar to using Facebook to enter another website, the Facebook ID card will have an array of uses—banking, employment, citizenship, passports, census, taxation, welfare fraud, child-support, social security, and criminal identification— with an “extremely secure and accurate computer record.”

Full Story Here:
White House mulls idea of mandatory ID cards for Web users

There are people in THIS NATION that raise all manners of HELL at the idea of a voters I.D. card. I am guessing that this will send some of them over the edge.

Now I have to say, a Facebook I.D. and using it for MY personal business is not just a NO, but a HELL NO! Facebook can’t secure their Social Media site. Hackers are always there on Facebook. Phishing scams are always looking to exploit the crap security that Facebook provides.

But lets face it, there is very little a person can do in this world that doesn’t require an I.D. of one form or another, and soon it may require an I.D. for ALL activities.

You can’t cash a check, buy a gun or get a drivers license without an I.D., and YES, that drivers license IS an I.D. but you have to provide some proof of I.D. to get an I.D., usually a birth certificate and Social Security card.

If you’re out driving your car and you break some traffic regulation(s) and a Police Officer pulls you over, you’d better have some I.D., a current license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance in most states.

Did you know that the Officer stopping you has to carry I.D. on his/her person proving themselves to be certified Law Enforcement Officers? I mean I.D. other than just a badge and uniform?

In most locales an officer carries a state certification card, a POST certification of some sort, it may have a different name in various places, but a certification card is carried.

Also, an Officer must carry a COMMISSION Card, that is the card issued by his/her agency that certifies the officer to be a real, currently active Police Officer.

Did you know that you can ask to see the officers certification, other than just a badge? It may not make you too popular with the officer, but it is an option, seeing his/her proof of identity.

Interstate truck drivers must have a (usually) Class A Commercial Drivers license and a medical certification showing that they have been found physically fit to drive. If a driver hauls hazardous material he/she must be Haz-Mat certified and carrying that I.D., also, if a driver pulls a tanker or multiple trailers, proof of certification MUST be carried.

Pilots must carry certification too, private pilot, commercial pilot, single engine, multi-engine, prop, jet, all classes of ALL certifications, and a health certification that is a very serious matter. Commercial pilots have to take cardio stress tests on a regular basis too.

Confused yet? Well, that’s OK, you can get some therapist to treat you and help you deal with your confusion, but you have to have an I.D. to get medical treatment too, and I hope you therapist has some I.D. too…