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STANFORD, Calif. - 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.

"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."

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Much ado about nothing? Does this give the US government unprecedented power to monitor the Internet? Is this another attempt to chip away at the privacy and freedom of the Internet? Thoughts?

Sounds like much ado about nothing. If you don't want to memorize a shitload of passwords, or are afraid of someone hacking into your online bank account or email... you can opt in. It wouldn't be mandatory or anything...

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.

Skjellyfetti wrote:Sounds like much ado about nothing. If you don't want to memorize a shitload of passwords, or are afraid of someone hacking into your online bank account or email... you can opt in. It wouldn't be mandatory or anything...

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.

Just like the images from the full body scanners weren't going to be stored and looked at right?

If you're worried about your liberties, don't opt in. Simple.

Skjellyfetti wrote:If you're worried about your liberties, don't opt in. Simple.

This could easily be seen as the beginning of a slippery slope. Chip away...

ERK-MOBILE wrote: This could easily be seen as the beginning of a slippery slope. Chip away...

Chip away? At people's liberties that CHOOSE to sign up for a program?

Again, I'd agree with you completely if they were forcing everyone to have an online ID like a social security number that tracked your actions online. But, that's nowhere near the case. As long as you have the option to not participate, you retain ALL your liberties and freedoms.

Skjellyfetti wrote:

ERK-MOBILE wrote: This could easily be seen as the beginning of a slippery slope. Chip away...

Chip away? At people's liberties that CHOOSE to sign up for a program?

Again, I'd agree with you completely if they were forcing everyone to have an online ID like a social security number that tracked your actions online. But, that's nowhere near the case. As long as you have the option to not participate, you retain ALL your liberties and freedoms.

Just commenting on the fact that this is setting up a program/system that has the capability to create an ID only Internet. It seems like we're opening up a can of worms. (conspiracy theory)

Also, the nature of this program opens up the possibility of this creating a divided Internet. Some sites/companies that you may want to visit may end up requiring you to use this technology. So, if a person wants to browse like they once did, they'll have to sign up. This could easily become a "necessary option" in order take full advantage of the internet. Schmidt's comments about wanting the private-sector to lead this certainly leaves open that possibility. They're giving the guys that want to kill "Net Neutrality" the power to implement a system like this, too.

Obviously, this is conjecture, but it is certainly something to think about.

I'm with Erk. I don't like the idea of more control by the govt. or private sector. Sounds like a giveaway to the anti-Neutrality crowd. I just don't trust any of them. They are all too deeply in bed with one another. Call me a left wing nut if you like, but I am not. Just don't trust that this won't be used in a bad way eventually.

How much will this program cost?

If you don't want to remember a dozen passwords, just use LastPass. It's free.

Fuck the government.

I'm just glad Obama has fixed the economy so he can concentrate on important matters like this Internet ID thingy.

Skjellyfetti wrote:If you're worried about your liberties, don't opt in. Simple.

Do you even hear yourself, SK?

How is your comment different from someone saying that only criminals need to fear heightened security, wiretapping, etc?

Just don't commit the crimes, eh, SK?

It's irrelevant in the same way gun control is irrelevant, i.e., it's too late to do anything about it