It's kinda like how Techcrunch keeps posting BS articles about Last.fm, and then censoring the comments about it. Top journalism there.

If Google handles all the keys for Gmail, how is that any different than something much simpler, say, something like DomainKeys/DKIM?

They also don't discriminate against students watching the protest from their dorm hallway who aren't involved in it in any away.

"The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all."

Now, I know it isn't "laws" per se, but it still applies. Censorship has to stop when it starts, not when it finally effects you.

Don't forget that there's also laws on the books outlawing unauthorized uploads of copyrighted materials, illicit consumption of controlled substances, and not paying the man his cut. These too are only enforced when it benefits the politicians in charge at the time. In the last 10 years, I've lived in 4 different apartments, and have been asked for my SSN once. I said no, the landlord effectively said ok, and I still got the place.

Different guy, but I did some research. Closest is this:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/history/ssn/ssnchron.html
"To make, under federal law, unlawful disclosure or compelling disclosure of the SSN of any person a felony, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment."

The glorious thing about this is that you do not need to provide an SSN to get a cell phone, or a utility service, or even a car. You can do all 3 of those with your ID, or even a letter from a utility service (credit reference letter). You are required by law to give your SSN for a line of credit or other account at a financial institution. Getting cell service is not a line of credit from a financial institution. You are required to give it to your employer. I'm pretty sure this guy isn't applying for a job at Sprint. If a company cannot do a credit check on you without your SSN, there's either some incompetence or maliciousness going on. Outside of employers and one bank, I've not had to give my SSN to anyone in the last ten years, and I've had plenty of cell phones, various utilities, and insurance companies.