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So I understand the 'drawback', especially for 'universal data'. But let's just use something more mundane: Are you concerned that the government has a 'recor

by jariel 6y ago

So I understand the 'drawback', especially for 'universal data'. But let's just use something more mundane: Are you concerned that the government has a 'record of you' regarding your Driver's License? Probably not. We have drivers licenses, we have social security. It's a very reasonable step to have some kind of 'good id'. Yes, there'll have to be legislation around it for privacy.

throwaway0a5e 6y ago
People tolerate these kinds of things as necessary evils. It would be great if we didn't need ID to drive and didn't need SS but that's not the world we live in. The fact that people tolerate necessary evil is not argument for more evil.
- jariel 6y ago
  "People tolerate these kinds of things as necessary evils." They are not 'necessary evils' in any minds but those of HN commenters. They are just 'normal artifacts' in the minds most people. People are generally not concerned with the existence of DLs and they are generally not some kind of 'threat'. If you literally brought up 'privacy' issues to most Americans, maybe they would say something, but I'll be $100 that most Americans, on the subject of 'Drivers License' would never bring up the issue of 'privacy' unsolicited. An SS card with literally a photo on it, the most minor of changes, could effectively serve as a really good 'ID'.