3 ms·

Part of the problem IMO is that there are too many designs in circulation. Even once we filter to "Real ID compliant documents", we have 50 states + a grab bag

by hakfoo 4y ago

Part of the problem IMO is that there are too many designs in circulation. Even once we filter to "Real ID compliant documents", we have 50 states + a grab bag of territories, each issuing at least a driver's license and a non-driver's identity card, possibly other variants (different formats for under-21, learner's permits, etc.), along with military and tribal issue documents. Now assume each of these will be redesigned every few years, whether it's changing the governor's signature or a full restructuring of the security features. I could see the number of valid documents-- for citizens and permanent residents alone-- easily approaching 1000 types. There's going to be confusion and people are going to be either unfairly hassled for having a unfamiliar but valid document, let through with bogus documents, or both. If you're a TSA agent in Maine, will you correctly recognize a two-generations-old-but-still-valid identity card issued by New Mexico on the spot? What we need is the full-on Mark of the Beast nightmare of having a federal Department of Identity. One standard document, with only a few designs in circulation. States can attach endorsements to the card number for things like driver licensing. Hell, if it's a smart card, they could probably store a signed certificate on the card itself to appease the crypto nerds.

dane-pgp 4y ago
> What we need is the full-on Mark of the Beast nightmare of having a federal Department of Identity. Why stop at federal when you can go global? The question is, will Apple's digital driver's license / state ID support[0] be considered Real ID-compliant, and will this form the basis of a global identity standard? [0] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/03/apple-launches-the-first-drivers-license-and-state-id-in-wallet-with-arizona/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/03/apple-launches-the-fi...
- hakfoo 4y ago
  I'd prefer it be government infrastructure myself. Insert UN-as-world-government conspiracy theories here if you want, but probably even nation-state is enough for that crowd. If nothing else, a government-backed plan will have armies of stakeholders coming out of the woodwork with a lot of very relevant "...and how does this work after a hurricane causes a week-long power outage and there's nothing resembling a cell tower standing in 100km?" questions. For something like identity, you want a maximally-passive device, probably close to today's current smart and contactless cards, that relies on external readers for any sort of display and interactively. The goal needs to be physical durability-- you don't want someone wading through flood waters, only to find out their iDentity device shorted out in their pocket, or replacing devices that get bent if someone does bends over with it in their pocket, or develop Spicy Pillow Syndrome after 3 years. Does Apple even know how to handle this sort of really minimal design? Didn't their credit card actually physically break down if you put it in a jeans pocket? TBH, that's the sort of thing government is INTENDED for: it's not supposed to be sexy and innovative (and inevitably doomed to sharding into squabbling competitive fiefdoms), it's supposed to be a boring, universally available background service that lets people do other, more interesting things on top of it.

by hakfoo 4y ago

dane-pgp 4y ago

> What we need is the full-on Mark of the Beast nightmare of having a federal Department of Identity. Why stop at federal when you can go global? The question is, will Apple's digital driver's license / state ID support[0] be considered Real ID-compliant, and will this form the basis of a global identity standard? [0] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/03/apple-launches-the-first-drivers-license-and-state-id-in-wallet-with-arizona/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/03/apple-launches-the-fi...

hakfoo 4y ago
I'd prefer it be government infrastructure myself. Insert UN-as-world-government conspiracy theories here if you want, but probably even nation-state is enough for that crowd. If nothing else, a government-backed plan will have armies of stakeholders coming out of the woodwork with a lot of very relevant "...and how does this work after a hurricane causes a week-long power outage and there's nothing resembling a cell tower standing in 100km?" questions. For something like identity, you want a maximally-passive device, probably close to today's current smart and contactless cards, that relies on external readers for any sort of display and interactively. The goal needs to be physical durability-- you don't want someone wading through flood waters, only to find out their iDentity device shorted out in their pocket, or replacing devices that get bent if someone does bends over with it in their pocket, or develop Spicy Pillow Syndrome after 3 years. Does Apple even know how to handle this sort of really minimal design? Didn't their credit card actually physically break down if you put it in a jeans pocket? TBH, that's the sort of thing government is INTENDED for: it's not supposed to be sexy and innovative (and inevitably doomed to sharding into squabbling competitive fiefdoms), it's supposed to be a boring, universally available background service that lets people do other, more interesting things on top of it.