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I think therefore I am – But how do I prove it?
July 31st, 2012 Guy Lidbetter Posted in Strategy & Innovation, Technology, Trends |
These means of interacting electronically are now so pervasive and will only grow. Today our digital identity is becoming at least as important as the physical ones we are accustomed to, such as passports and driving licences. However, that digital identity is becoming fragmented beyond belief and with it comes risk.
Every time you use a new website to buy something, you enter all your details yet again. Sharing important personal and financial information is not to be taken lightly, yet it is becoming generally accepted practice – and the more people that know who you are, the more likely someone who shouldn’t will get hold of that information.
In the not too distant future there will have to be a fundamental shift in how personal identity is asserted and authenticated so that only the individual has access, with all other verification being made against that trusted single source.
The digital passport has been tried unsuccessfully in the past but the need for it is becoming ever more pervasive. As with physical passports, perhaps it can only be truly trusted as an extension of that existing government service.
Regardless of the mechanics, governments should surely be duty bound to protect their citizens in the digital as well as physical space, where they are spending an ever larger proportion of their time. While many won’t welcome further state intrusion on privacy, some entity will need to become the trusted authority of peoples’ digital identities rather than the scatter gun that exists today.
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Guy Lidbetter
With more than 25 years experience in the IT industry, Guy is responsible for setting Technical and Innovation Strategy across the IT infrastructure stack for Atos Global Managed Services, increasingly to cloud based as well as traditionally outsourced IT services. Previously, Guy has held numerous technical and management positions in Sema Group, SchlumbergerSema and Atos Origin. Guy is also a founder member of the Atos Scientific Community, having been Track Leader for Context Aware Computing and now Chairman of the editorial board for the latest Scientific Community research - Journey 2016. Married for 21 years, Guy has a son, of 18 and twin daughters of 16. He has a passion for sport, in particular Chelsea Football Club, baseball’s Atlanta Braves, rugby union, cricket and golf. He also plays football and golf and more leisurely pursuits include photography, reading, music and attempting cryptic crosswords with varying success.
There is some sense of anonymity in using multiple identities. I think it will become a matter of personal preference of how much privacy people are prepared to sacrifice for simplicity and ease of access. You can put 6 locks on your door but it’s a real pain if it takes you half an hour to get in.
I kind of like having multiple digital identities and would dislike if it is all unified in 1 traceable number. So I do not see the problem.