I've been on the phone most of this moring with some folks that *really* don't understand the identity story....so forgive me if I rant a little:
There is a fundamental change that is occuring. It is beginning with the rearchitecting of our IT networks, but it will extend to bridge the very ways in which our electronic world meets our physical world. And it doesn't matter whether you call it ".NET" or "web services" or "distributed computing" -- because the underlying change is all the same -- We are transforming our networks of anonymity into networks of identity.
This change is being driven in 3 primary ways:
Legislatively -- through things like Article 26 (?) in the EU's charter, the Patriot Act, Sarbannes-Oxley, HIPPA, Graham Leach-Bliley, etc.
Economically -- bottom line: digital identity is no joke -- it is just plain good business. It saves money.
Security -- oh by the way, it makes systems more secure while you're at it.
Can this change be stopped? No. It is inexorably going to happen. Why? Because our electronic networks (especially those focused on economic transactions) will grind to a halt otherwise.
Are there concerns? Sure there are.
Understanding that a fundamental change is occuring shouldn't be one of them.
(eric steps down off of soapbox.)
Posted by ejnorlin at May 19, 2003 12:13 PM