Government starts testing a Program in which a user must have License (Internet ID) to access the Internet

[Fulgrim]

 

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued $2.4 million for testing a government-based online identity system in Michigan and Pennsylvania.The initiative was developed under the “National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace” program for years and now is rolled-out for field testing.

 

“The goal is to put to bed once and for all our current ineffective and tedious system of using passwords for online authentication, which itself was a cure for the even more ineffective and tedious process of walking into a brick-and-mortar building and presenting a human being with two forms of paper identification,” reporter Meghan Neal wrote for VICE’s Motherboard website on Tuesday this week. Neal also expressed that it will help curb the problem of fraud which causes loses in billions for the US government.

 

“The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pilot will offer residents the opportunity to obtain a secure, privacy-enhancing credential to conduct online transactions with a number of participating agencies including the departments of Public Welfare and Health,” NIST said when they awarded the grant to the Keystone State. “Citizens will be able to register just once to access a variety of services, eliminating the need to create multiple accounts and to validate their identity multiple times.”

 

 

It can bring convenience for many and that is the central idea of this project. However, it will also give more control to the government and that could be good or bad depending on what government decides to do with it. Thus, the stakes are too high according to Electronic Privacy Information Center associate director Lillie Coney. Coney said in 2011:

“Look at it this way: You can have one key that opens every lock for everything you might need online in your daily life, or, would you rather have a key ring that would allow you to open some things but not others?”

 

This will also open new opportunities for the hackers as well. Once they have access to your cyber ID they can access everything. Neal also shared same thoughts this week:

“Then there’s the problem of putting all your security eggs in one vulnerable basket. If a hacker gets their hands on your cyber ID, they have the keys to everything.”

 

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[loccilucas]

jesus, I wish the government could fuck off and leave the internet alone.

[StingBull]

Why yes I would prefer a keyring and different keys rather than one single key that can easily be stolen.

[WereCat]

Oh no no no no no please NO!

I can see benefits of this but they are heavily outweighed by negatives... Don't make this a thing!

[askmax]

Agreed, the government should stick to fucking with the poor people and leave us internet people alone.

[TheGamingBarrel]

How about fuck off?

[werto165]

OH God no!!!! 

[JAKEBAB]

wow this kinda reminds me of this http://e-estonia.com/e-residents/become-e-resident/ although i dont think e-residency  is necessarily a bad thing but this definitely is!

[Deli]

The article talks about internet ID to access US state government agencies. What it has anything to do with GOV.UK?

 

Talking about a car, but show us a picture of a boat. WTF!

[Dude]

*COUGH* 1984 *COUGH*

[Ruostunut kokis]

I find this appropriate to be posted here:

 

 

EDIT: where are all these likes flooding from!?!? Stahp!

[zanduh]

I heard about this a while back when it was just a discussion point.

 

Doesn't this pose the serious issue of denying internet, and therefore information, to immigrants, homeless (yes a lot of homeless have laptops or phones these days), and other similar groups? All so that you can prevent torrenting? 

[techswede]

So basically. 

They've restricted movement for many (S**t infrastructure)

Now they are thinking about ID cards.

Then come the curfews

 

*Cough*Stalin*Cough*

[Shroomster]

Good god. I am happy I live in Finland and the government does have no interest in ruling over the internet.

[Shroomster]

So basically. 

They've restricted movement for many (S**t infrastructure)

Now they are thinking about ID cards.

Then come the curfews

 

*Cough*Stalin*Cough*

The GULAG will rise again.

[That Norwegian Guy]

Hey America, the time has finally come to use those "rights" you've been battling to keep; if there ever was a time to get out your guns: this is it.

[Yummychickenblue]

This can only lead to bad things.

 

A lot of people are viewing this.

[chillxnate]

Just wait until you have an unpaid parking ticket and they shut down your access to the internet... 

[deviant88]

omg..... they are literally trying everything their stupid minds can to take over the internet how stupid is that ID for internet,and it wants my email real name adress and ID card data in there too right? well at least i dont live in uk pfft

[techswede]

The GULAG will rise again.

[WolfDeville]

AWWWW MAAA LAWWWWWWWWWD NO.

[RH00D]

These types of things are bad, there are many legitimate reasons to be anonymous on the Internet. Anonymity is a mixed bag, but the positives of it outweigh the negatives.

 

I'll try to make a list of reasons for anonymity.

 

1) Allows individuals to post about or participate in discussions about subjects which may be embarrassing, "socially unacceptable", or "politically incorrect". (Such as rights for homosexuals, discussions about sexual diseases, or fetishes, etc.)

2) Allows journalists and/or whistleblowers to communicate and write about and/or expose controversial matters

3) Allows people to research things such as debt/credit card counseling without companies knowing about it (Thus they cannot impose certain consequences on you as a result of seeking/needing such help.)

4) Allows you to keep sensitive details about you private (Do you want the government to know that you did a Google search about whether or not Marijuana could help with your medical condition?)

 

Of course, to maintain protection in some of the scenarios above you will need to take additional measures such as using a VPN, a search engine like DuckDuckGo, a more privacy-oriented web browser such as Aviator, and using an Internet connection that isn't registered in your name.

 

I'm sure there's more reasons but that's all I've got off the top of my head.

[LAwLz]

Of course, to maintain protection in some of the scenarios above you will need to take additional measures such as using a VPN, a search engine like DuckDuckGo, a more privacy-oriented web browser such as Aviator, and using an Internet connection that isn't registered in your name.

Unless they make it illegal to use those things. I mean, ISPs are already making it against the TOS to use them, and I think it was the BBC which said that anyone who uses those are most likely pirating things.

Oh, Mr RH00D is using a VPN? I guess we will have to ban his Internet access then...

 

This is some of the worst news I have read in a long time. "The goal is to put to bed once and for all our current ineffective and tedious system of using passwords for online authentication". Sure...

I totally agree that passwords are a pain in the ass and many people forget them and so on, but having the government tie your name to everything you do online and having the power to shut you off whenever you want is not a good compromise.

This is a huge step backwards in terms of privacy and security. On top of all that, the US government has time and time again showed that they are willing to abuse their power. I have no doubt in my mind that they will abuse the hell out of this power if they get it.

[Real_PhillBert]

I feel safer already : /

[qwertywarrior]

wow this is a great idea

no more scamers  ,no more bots ,no more dissidents i mean hate speech .........