Forms of identity (Was RE: Open versus closed PKI systems)

[Richard Clayton]

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In article <5.0.2.1.2.20010516205750.03ebe760@pop3.benzo8.org>, John
Sullivan <lists@benzo8.org> writes

>At 08:36 PM 16/05/2001, you wrote:
>
>>Train from Ashford.
>
>Do they not have passport control at Ashford then, like they do at 
>Waterloo? Waterloo is very similar to an airport, with passport control, a 
>regulated check-in period, etc...

Outgoing (from Waterloo, to the same meeting in Paris as Roland); my
ticket was read by a computer, my passport was not needed at all and,
since there was a queue for the X-Ray machine, I was waved through and
did not even go through one of those detector gates....
... I was carrying a shoulder bag (containing clothes and a computer)
and a carrier bag (containing my coat); and was looking my usual (not
entirely establishment) self.

Coming back, the computer again approved of my ticket, a French official
looked at the picture page of my passport (practice doubtless makes
perfect, but in the time he took, I don't think _I_ could do any more
than just register that there was a photo stuck on the page). They were
X-raying no-one's luggage that I could see.

At Ashford (where I asymmetrically alighted) they once again just
checked there was a photo in the passport using their skill to match it
with me.

I suspect my inheritance of dirty pink skin (and years of avoiding the
sun lamp) simplify these matters.

I've also found down the years that the Germans are rather more fussy
with my passport; usually holding the page up to the light to try and
see how I've managed to stick in a photo that looks anything like me :)
Perhaps I fit a teutonic ideal of a terrorist more than a Home Counties
one ?

Anyway, the train to Paris was quite civilised really ... almost as
little trouble as the last time I caught the shuttle to Glasgow (where
Gatwick made a point of taking my video picture in such a way that they
would be able to tie it to the declared identity on my plane ticket).


I suppose I should add something that is actually UKCrypto related ...
but about the only thing that occurs is that it was convenient to be
able to use SSH and PGP in a Parisian Conference Centre without feeling
like a criminal.

In this context, the strongest piece of identification I used was to
type a PIN into the crypto-card I carry in my pocket so that I could
then persuade a computer in North London that I was in physical
possession of this hardware token (and thereby access some useful files
and other machines).

- -- 
richard                     richard.clayton  @  h i g h w a y m a n . com

"Assembly of Japanese bicycle require great peace of mind" quoted in ZAMM

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