Elliot Noss has jumped into the blogfray Eric Norlin has stirred up (blast his eyes!). It’s clearer to me than ever why I disagree.

Elliot in his blog puts forward the idea that a digID system will enable:

– user-controlled identity
– data-driven distribution
– massive competition

Those three together, says Elliot, will “virtually ensure the world ends up the way David wants it…”

I am not so much of a free market capitalist as to think that competition always gives the users what they want. Sometimes we get a Microsoft monopoly. Sometimes we get a corrupt, failing telephone system. Sometimes we get a medical system that turns away people without insurance. In this case, the playing field is slanted in two directions: against customers and against smaller merchants. Enabling users to surrender their ID information will favor the big players, the brand names because we’ll be more willing to put up with their demands. I fear — but of course I don’t know — that competition won’t be enough. And with no real possibility of legislation, I’m stuck suggesting voluntary good-will pledges. How pathetic is that?

Categories: Uncategorized dw