I thought this was pretty interesting:
“What Mundie is proposing is to impose authentication. He draws an analogy to automobile use. If you want to drive a car, you have to have a license (not to mention an inspection, insurance, etc). If you do something bad with that car, like break a law, there is the chance that you will lose your license and be prevented from driving in the future. In other words, there is a legal and social process for imposing discipline. Mundie imagines three tiers of Internet ID: one for people, one for machines and one for programs (which often act as proxies for the other two).
Now, there are, of course, a number of obstacles to making such a scheme be reality. Even here in the mountains of Switzerland I can hear the worldwide scream go up: “But we’re entitled to anonymity on the Internet!” Really? Are you? Why do you think that?
from here: http://curiouscapitalist.blogs.time.com/2010/01/30/drivers-licenses-for-the-internet/
I think they tried this in China:
Chinese bloggers will not have to register their real names online, after the government backed down over plans to enforce the proposals.
With more and more stories surfacing regularly about web censorship, China’s estimated 20 million bloggers will be pleased with the news that they will not be compelled to register their real names.
from here: http://www.bigmouthmedia.com/live/articles/china-backs-down-over-blog-id-proposal.asp/3781/
Security is a big deal on the internet:
“Digital artifacts may be collected from live systems (traditional computers, personal digital assistants, and/or distributed information systems such as ‘cloud computers’), from wired or wireless networks, or collected storage media. The format may include electronic documents or software (to include malicious software – malware).
The Cyber Genome Program will encompass several program phases and technical areas of interest. Each of the technical areas will develop the cyber equivalent of fingerprints or DNA to facilitate developing the digital equivalent of genotype, as well as observed and inferred phenotype in order to determine the identity, lineage, and provenance of digital artifacts and users.”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/26/cyber_genome_project/
http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/The-Cyber-Genome-Project–pieces-of_3985.html
But I think for some, anonymity is essential to the free flow of ideas. For many, that is what the internet is.
The Autonomous Region’s Public Security office has stated, for using the Internet and tools such as mobile messages to make up and disseminate harmful information, the Public Security department will investigate in full and punish according to the law. At the same time calling for everyone to make a unified and stable Xinjiang, and a good environment of public order needs to be sustained by everyone. They hope that the different ethnic groups and people of different circles will not believe the rumors, will not spread rumors, will not create rumors and use the Internet is a civilized way. They will automatically reject bad mobile messages and when discovering an Internet or mobile message that contains harmful information, will report locally to 110 in a timely fashion.
On January 17th, Ma XX sent text messages with content about splitting the country to numerous mobile phones. After sending the text message, he received a notice from China Telecom rejecting the spread of harmful information. But Ma XX did not take note and continued to send text messages to other people containing writing about splitting the country. The Public Security department, after receiving reports from the masses, quickly caught Ma XX. At present, Ma XX is in criminal detention. The case in being investigated further.
From here: http://www.danwei.org/crime/xinjiang_text_messaging_spread.php
It’s a brave new world on the internet :
The world’s largest Internet search company and the world’s most powerful electronic surveillance organization are teaming up in the name of cybersecurity.
from here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020304057.html?hpid=topnews
