Don't help!

Again, another well-meaning "expert" in the identity space, has done no service to the movement toward secure CAC-type identity on a public basis. Guy Immega, CEO of Kinetic Sciences, of Vancouver, has written an editorial comment in the Globe & Mail today, in support of a national id program. A program, it should be understood, that was resoundingly hammered in a government-initiated conference in Ottawa earlier in the week.

While I appreciate and support most of what he says as I'm sympathetic to the cause, he does no service to anyone working on these sorts of initiatives with statements such as:

"A national ID card could function as a combined Canadian passport, CanPass card (for frequent cross-border travellers), SIN card, health-care card, driver's licence and even as a library card (assuming the co-operation of the provincial and municipal governments)."

This kind of frightening statement is exactly what is scaring off the majority from the notion of strong identity cards: the spectre of Big Brother and privacy invasion. Moreover, a better solution would likely involve multiple instances of such secure cards and solutions -- each for use in varying circumstances and for varying purposes -- to diversify risk. Natural evolution will take care of which, if any, such identity artifacts become multi-purpose -- and how. Better that there be several and a means of federating or simply opting in to accept them or not.

So, stop with this kind of help. Please.

Posted by Grayson at October 9, 2003 11:15 AM