Text 20554, 94 rader
Skriven 2008-09-10 00:54:06 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
     Kommentar till en text av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
Ärende: Personal IDs "for tax only"
===================================
Hello Robert,

On Monday September 08 2008 08:15, you wrote to me:

 MV>> The point is that your assumption that merely presenting the
 MV>> number will be accepted as *proof* of identity is wrong.

 RB> Open a bank account in the States, Michiel. With a valid SSN, you can
 RB> do that online. I think _your_ assumption is wrong.

I do not live in the US, I do not have a US SSN. I am concerned with the
situation here. *Here* I can not open a bank account a *physical* identity
document.

 RB> Anyway, I see a personal ID coupled with biometric data in the same
 RB> light as I would see a credit card number that can't be changed when
 RB> misused.

I think the analogy fails.

 RB>>> What basically bothers me is that once any ID or number coupled
 RB>>> with biometric data is compromised, that's it. No possibility of
 RB>>> change.

 MV>> One can not change the fingerprints, but one could change the
 MV>> number...

 RB> Impossible, and no government would agree to that.

Why not?

 RB> Then there would be _two_ numbers floating around with the _same_
 RB> biometric data.

Of which one of them  - the old one - would no longer be valid. I so dnot see
the problem.

 RB> Unthinkable! It's nearly impossible to get a replacement Social
 RB> Security Number in the States when the original has been found
 RB> incorrect or whatever, and there are no biometric data stored in
 RB> those.

Again: Ik do not live in the states, I am concerned with the situation here.

 RB>>> And anyone who has the number can impersonate you.

 MV>> Bob eveyone who knows your name can *attempt* to impersonate you.

 RB> Without success, but we're talking about more than just abstract data
 RB> such as name, address and birthdate. Los of other people were born on
 RB> the same day as I was, and I can change my name and address if really
 RB> necessary.

Point is that when it matters, attempts at impersonation will usually fail.

 RB> But once you're nailed down to biometric data, there's no change
 RB> possible. Rein ne va plus. That's it.

I do not understand why your are so focussed on impersonation. I see much
graver dangers associated woth our govenment's insatiable hunger for personal
data.

 MV>> When people are made to believe that the number is proof of
 MV>> identity rather than just an identification, than you may be
 MV>> right. But only naive people will believe that. People so naive
 MV>> will also believe mentioning a name and date of birth is proof of
 MV>> identity.

 MV>> Education will fix that.

 RB> Like education has also fixed all the problems of computer misuse? Not
 RB> opening attachments from unknown people, for example?

Fact is that education *has* worked in that area. Attachments that contain
virusses have become less popular among hackers just because it does not work
as well as it used to do.

 RB> Not replying to offers of millions from people in Nigeria? Not
 RB> "confirming" bank data when asked to do so by a nice email? Checking
 RB> computers for spyware?

Yep, education *has* worked.

 RB> You have more confidence in the abilities of the average person than I
 RB> do.

The average person has little or no chance of harming me by attempting to
impersonate me.


Cheers, Michiel

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