Obama Administration Moves to Reduce Online Privacy

The Obama administration is proposing a new identity management system for the Internet which is calls “Identity Ecosystem.” This new system will replace individually managed usernames and passwords with a taxpayer-funded federally-managed system.

The scheme is outlined in the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace. The planned system will tie together all of your accounts into one national online identity.  This will enable the federal government to easily track all online activity of every American.

The system will start with the federal government requiring the ID’s for use in accessing federal web sites — such as for filing your taxes online.  The federal government will then force businesses to adopt the system, starting with banks and credit card companies and slowly spreading to encompass the entire online environment. Once fully implemented, Internet users will no longer be able to comment anonymously on blogs or web forums, because all online identities will be verified with the U.S. government.

The system is envisioned to tie into all electronic communications devices, including cell phones.  To get cell phone service, you will be required to prove your digital identity.  Once you do that, the government will be able to correlate your phone calls, your location, and your online activity.  Privacy will become a thing of the past, like steam locomotives and black-powder rifles.

The plan is being marketed as “voluntary”, but what that really means is that if you don’t “volunteer” to accept the new ID system you won’t be able to open a bank account, apply for a credit card, sign up for a cell phone plan, or access many online services.

You can post your feedback on the new system at IdeaScale, but I would be careful of publicly criticizing the federal government at this point.  Their web site requires registration and can track you via email address and IP address.  If you are going to use the site, it might be smart to use a web proxy.