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Of course, someone could just forge such an ID scan, which is far easier than forging the ID itself. [Things could get harder the day governments start issuing
by a3_nm 15y ago
Of course, someone could just forge such an ID scan, which is far easier than forging the ID itself.
[Things could get harder the day governments start issuing cryptographic IDs (like, say, a smartcard which Google can query remotely).]
- jrockway 15y agoNo, it's easy to get a valid "fake" ID. All you need is a birth certificate, which is a paper document with no authentication features, and a utility bill, which is a paper document with no authentication features. Government-issued IDs are as worthless as anything else the government produces. The only value they have is that you'll have to pay a fine if they catch you with the fake birth certificate. Which is highly unlikely.
- nitrogen 15y agoThese days you'll probably need a valid SSN that maps to the name you want to use as well. Good luck accomplishing that without ripping off someone else's identity.
- jrockway 15y agoYou can get a new SSN with the following documents, according to the SSA's website: Employee ID card; School ID card; Health insurance card (not a Medicare card); U.S. military ID card; Adoption decree; Life insurance policy; or Marriage document (only in name change situations).
- icebraining 15y ago>Things could get harder the day governments start issuing cryptographic IDs (like, say, a smartcard which Google can query remotely). Some already are. My citizen card (Portugal) already contains a public-private key pair that I can use to log in to online governmental services. I'm not sure if there's a service available for third-parties to check someone's identity, though.