Re: [IFWP] Voter authentication

[Michael Froomkin - U.Miami School of Law]

Kent Crispin suggests that (1) he doesn't know/trust the groups I am
likely to know/trust; (2) many fourth and fifth parties have trust metrics
that have no overlap with either of us, and implies (3) that only a group
with total or at least enormously wide pre-existing trust can be a TTP in
this context.

I agree with (1) and (2).  I am more dubious about (3).  But let's suppose
trust can't be earned, and strangers cannot learn about institutions new
to them and then reasonably decide to trust them (how *did* I ever come to
join the ACM?). Even so, there are many groups that have international
trust, although of course there will never be any group that everyone in
the world trusts.

There are transnational professional associations, internationally known
universities (I bet Oslo would be trusted by many), foundations, and more.

Another type of candidate is -- brace yourself -- international law firms.

This is not all that hard problem to solve if and when it becomes
essential.   

Red Herring Alert!

{For non-native english speakers, a "red herring" is defined as "[from the
practice of drawing a red herring across a trail to confuse hunting dogs]
: something that distracts attention from the real issue" }

PS I will be leaving for holiday later this week, so I may be rather quiet
for a time.

-- 
A. Michael Froomkin   |    Professor of Law    |   [EMAIL PROTECTED]
U. Miami School of Law, P.O. Box 248087, Coral Gables, FL 33124 USA
+1 (305) 284-4285  |  +1 (305) 284-6506 (fax)  |  http://www.law.tm
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