Readers might recall my predictions for 2004. Number 9 read:
9. Howard Dean mentions Digital Identity in his presidential campaign. Okay, this one's a bit off the cuff -- first, I'm assuming that Dean gets the Democratic nomination (a pretty big assumption), then I'm predicting that Dean will mention Digital Identity in his campaign. I'm not willing to address context, but I'm looking for the mention. In 2004, Dean's "internet campaign" takes up the issue of digital identity.
So it is with great interest this morning that I read Declan Macullagh's column on Howard Dean this morning. Declan has obtained the transcript from a talk Dean gave approximately 15 months ago. Declan outlines the talk as follows:
Dean also suggested that computer makers such as Apple Computer, Dell, Gateway and Sony should be required to include an ID card reader in PCs--and Americans would have to insert their uniform IDs into the reader before they could log on. "One state's smart-card driver's license must be identifiable by another state's card reader," Dean said. "It must also be easily commercialized by the private sector and included in all PCs over time--making the Internet safer and more secure."The presidential hopeful offered few details about his radical proposal. "On the Internet, this card will confirm all the information required to gain access to a state (government) network--while also barring anyone who isn't legal age from entering an adult chat room, making the Internet safer for our children, or prevent adults from entering a children's chat room and preying on our kids...Many new computer systems are being created with card reader technology. Older computers can add this feature for very little money," Dean said.
ooooh....SO CLOSE to fullfilling my prediction, but I imagine that now Dean will have to respond -- so my prediction should come true.
It will be interesting to see if this column elevates the Identity debate (as a whole) on the campaign trail....
Posted by ejnorlin at January 26, 2004 08:34 AM