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

[Ian Johnson]

"Julian T. J. Midgley" wrote:

> By checking your passport they can ensure that you are not one of those
> they believe to been involved in criminal activity. 

I believe they should have reasonable grounds to suspect one first.

> You seem to be
> implying that they should rely on identification of suspects by
> photographs (despite the relative ease with which facial features can be
> disguised).

So everyone is a suspect?

> To put it another way, would you rather they did not check your passport,
> and so allowed a known terrorist on to the flight with you, when a
> passport check might have stopped him?

Absolutely. I would of course expect that passengers had been adequately
screened for firearms/explosives/etc. How does knowing someones id. make
the situation safer?

Trying to get vaguely back on topic, for most purposes identity does not
need to be known, rather you want to authenticate some attribute of that
entity, (e.g. is a qualified medic). Identity in one form or another 
allows these attributes to be collated or used for other purposes 
(particularly by the state) way too easily.

Regards,

Ian
-- 
Ian Johnson                             Tel  : +44 117 965 6261 x3167
Faculty of CSM, UWE Bristol		Email: irj@acm.org
Frenchay Campus, Bristol. BS16 1QY. UK.