Re:Just to be clear... (Score 2, Interesting)

Let's reply to this...

a) Prove this. You probably can't, you'll have to develop a track record of behavior
b) Is it encrypted on my computer before getting to your database? Or am I supposed to assume that you'll be honest and you'll 1) actually encrypt the data and 2) won't keep the password?
c) OK, so you're asking the slashdot crowd to help you play and test ... good luck on a) and b)

(Everytime you attempt to quickly placate the fears of your potential audience, you risk weakening the system. I'd recommend staying away from debate until you've received some valuable comments and really thought out a response.)

Personally, I feel the system is too complex and resolves a problem that I, as a 'Net citizen, don't have. I've had visions of grandeur in the past for notarizing PGP keys using real notaries and replacing paper signatures with digital ones. I think it'd be great to walk into the bank, hand over a digital file (on a USB key?) for opening an account, taking out a loan ... I hate the paperwork. Although the technologists would love this, the average citizen doesn't get it and can't imagine using it. OK, you're audience is the technologist: well, frankly I (a technologist) am not interested in going through any of this trouble because no site has asked for such tight verification of my identity. And when porn sites tell me to use the adult verification service for a one-time fee of $5 or $20, I start surfing someplace else. Competition will probably drive out any site requiring your authentication services.