Friday, February 15, 2008

Tell me all that you are, and there will be no sex offenders on SNS. Identity stakes go up another notch in NY

Outlaw reports that "sex offenders will be banned from using social networking sites under a law proposed in the US state of New York." The law would, if enacted permit the release of offenders details to SNS operators in order to restrict them from using these sites. In this regard, the "offenders" would have to register all of their online identities, internet acounts and email id's with with the police as conditions of their probation or parole. The New York Senate passed the proposed law this week, and it remains to be debated by the Assembly.

A step forward, but a bit over ambitious I think for the following reason: how would you register a uncreated identity? How will they deal with new identities? How will they prevent these people from stealing other people's identities or using them to their own benefit ? The identity stakes have gone up another notch in New York

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Is a single digital identity good for me?

Thought for the day:

You have one key that opens all the (many) doors you need to access.

This is very convenient for you, saves time and makes life so much more hassle free and easy to manage. It saves you the trouble of carrying aorund many keys or remembering where you put them all.

This one key thus becomes a very valuable asset. But surely, this must be ok. Of course, it is. Provided you dilligently look after the key, and keep it safe. Or insure it.

But, what if someone stole that key, and gained access to all your rooms, lockers and hideaways. Yes, you could change the locks and get another similar key.

Then again, what if your key was compromised without your knowledge? And you were targetted on the basis of someone knowing something about you? Perhaps you may never wisen up to this, if you are not overly affected or then again something nasty might happen to you and your personal effects.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Defining digital identity

Here is something I have come up with in my quest for the definition of digital identity. This is only a working definition and all comments and suggestions are welcome.

"Digital identity refers to any digital representation (whole or partial)
of an entity,
in tangible or abstract form,
either self-created,
externally assigned
or consequentially generated."

Watch this space.

Links to this definition: http://citizenl.hors-sujet.com/?p=12

Friday, February 08, 2008

My quest to find the perfect ( or rather holistic) "digital identity" definition is on.

The question is is this possible? Or even advisable?

I'm also very, very upset by the whale killing pictures I've seen. And I'm no vegetarian.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

The right to DI life and privacy

Can the right to digital identity be read into the right to life and privacy? or need it be made a separate right altogether? I going to think long and hard about this one. So should you.

Monday, February 04, 2008

Catching up with news

A lot happened while I was busy in the real world. Google, NTT and the US GSA deployed SAML 2.0. Yahoo rolled out OpenID 2.0 framework. The ECJ ruled that the identity of file sharers was to be protected in civil suits. Press reports like this show how golden the biometric goose is. And in India, the MNIC came under fire once again.