Andy Kaplan-Myrth's Webstream

Instead of seeing 'identity' as a collection of more-or-less verifiable attributes of a person, we suggest that it is much more productive to see it as a relationship. In the context of determining whether a person is a qualified solicitor, for example, it is relevant to know whether the person purporting to be the solicitor is the person named in the relevant roll. The identity to be verified is that between the person whose name is noted in the roll, and the person purporting to be the solicitor in question. It is perfectly possible that he is the same person even though his name and address are different; and equally possible that he is not the same person even though his name and address appear to be the same.....Those faced with the problem of how to verify a person's identity would be well advised to ask themselves the question, 'Identity with what?' An enquirer equipped with the answer to this question is in a position to tackle, on a rational basis, the task of deciding waht evidence will be useful for the purpose. Without the answer to the question, the verification of identity becomes a sadly familiar excercise in blind compliance with arbitrary rules.Tags: sitt_ecom privacy identity IDM Posted by: kaplanmyrth

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