> http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/10/17/ ... -Anonymity
> http://www.zdnetasia.com/insight/securi ... 697,00.htm
"Eugene Kaspersky, CEO of well-known computer security company Kaspersky Labs, is calling for an end to the anonymity of the Internet, and for the creation of mandatory 'Internet passports' for anyone who wishes to browse the Web. Says Kaspersky, 'Everyone should and must have an identification, or internet passport ... the internet was designed not for public use, but for American scientists and the US military. Then it was introduced to the public, and it was wrong ... to introduce it in the same way.' He calls anonymity 'the Internet's biggest security vulnerability' and thinks any country that doesn't follow this regime should be 'cut off.' The EFF objects, and it's likely that they won't be the only ones."
While Eugene's intentions might be for the good and he might just want the best for the internet and it's users, he is gravely misguided if he believes an global internet ID is the answer. Why would this fail? Three reasons to start with:"I'd like to change the design of the internet by introducing regulation - internet passports, internet police and international agreement - about following internet standards," he continued. "And if some countries don't agree with or don't pay attention to the agreement, just cut them off."
- The international co-ordination just isn't there. There would probably be 10-15 countries that would join into this ID system, but what about the other 100-odd that matter?
- The cost required to implement this. A lot of countries will be recovering from the GFC for a few years and have better things to spend their money on.
- I would hope that the world's internet users would see this is a potentially nasty gateway system for introducing additional Big Brother systems -- China and Israel come to mind.
Thoughts?