Re: "The ID Divide"

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

________________________________________
From: eackerma () gmail com [eackerma () gmail com] On Behalf Of Ethan Ackerman [eackerma () u washington edu]
Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2008 5:43 PM
To: David Farber
Subject: Re: [IP] Re: "The ID Divide"

Greetings Dave, (for IP if you see fit)

DHS Assistant Secretary for Policy Baker makes an excellent point that
some authentication solutions may be less than ideal solutions to the
growing "ID divide" because they fall prey to the same economic forces
that cause a "digital divide."

But the Secretary's comments also serve to highlight the difference
between an "ID divide" and a "digital divide. A "digital divide" is an
artifact of economic inequality, usually not easily solved. An "ID
divide" results from VOLUNTARY (and entirely reversible) policy
choices by governments, and is solved with the stroke of a pen.

Some of the solutions to "ID divides" discussed in the American
Progress report are not 100% solutions, but the first proposed
solution certainly is -
the easiest way to solve an "ID divide" is to NOT unnecessarily create
one in the first place.


-Ethan

On 6/8/08, David Farber <dave () farber net> wrote:
> ________________________________________
> From: Stewart Baker [stewart.baker () gmail com]
> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2008 12:22 PM
> To: David Farber
> Subject: Re: [IP] "The ID Divide"
>
> This report is premised on the notion that there's an ID divide
> comparable to the digital divide.  So, it's pretty ironic that, when
> it gets around to proposing solutions (as opposed to criticizing
> existing programs), it says this:
>
> "[T]here is a promising approach that is rapidly becoming far more
> workable. For people with ready access to a computerized device, the
> device can use strong, unique passwords for each person for each
> organization. Fortunately, that kind of device is well on its way to
> being adopted. It is called the cell phone. Cell phones, laptop
> computers, smart cards, and other devices increasingly will be usable
> by ordinary people to provide strong passwords
> for each organization. There will be a social learning curve about how
> to do this sort of authentication. Device-based authentication,
> however, provides a way for individuals to be more secure and to
> manage what to reveal to organizations asking for proof of identity."
>
> Well, that should take care of the ID divide, all right.  As soon all
> the people who are too poor to get drivers' licenses get cell phones.
>
> Stewart Baker
>
> On Sun, Jun 8, 2008 at 11:45 AM, David Farber <dave () farber net> wrote:
> > ________________________________________
> > From: Peter Swire [peter () peterswire net]
> > Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2008 11:28 AM
> > To: David Farber
> > Subject: "The ID Divide"
> >
> > Hi Dave:
> >
> > Perhaps of interest to your list, this week we released a report on "The ID Divide: Addressing the Challenges of 
> > Identification and Authentication in American Society."
> >
> > The report is at http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/06/id_divide.html.
> >
> > A resource page on identification/authentication is at 
> > http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/06/id_resources.html.
> >
> > Your readers are familiar with the "digital divide," where life is quite different for those with great broadband 
> > vs. those with limited or no access to computing.  The idea of the "ID Divide" is that there are growing problems 
> > for those who face problems proving their identity -- over 20 million American adults lack government-issued photo 
> > ID; identity theft hits over 8 million people/year; and the no-fly list will go over 1 million names this year.
> >
> > The report grows out of a project at the Center for American Progress where we included experts from a wide range 
> > of areas affected by identification: national/homeland security; immigration; voting; online authentication; 
> > e-health records; computer security; privacy; and civil liberties.  The goal was to help create a unified approach 
> > for addressing these issues.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Peter
> >
> >
> > Prof. Peter P. Swire
> > C. William O'Neil Professor of Law
> >   Moritz College of Law
> >   The Ohio State University
> > Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
> > (240) 994-4142, www.peterswire.net
> >
> >
> >
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