Craig Mundie Wants "Internet Driver's Licenses" 427
I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "Craig Mundie, Microsoft's Chief Research and Strategy Officer, called for the creation of an 'Internet Driver's License' at the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying, 'If you want to drive a car you have to have a license to say that you are capable of driving a car, the car has to pass a test to say it is fit to drive and you have to have insurance.' Of course, there are quite a few problems with this. For starters, internet use cannot yet cause death or dismemberment like car accidents can; and this would get rid of most of the good of internet anonymity while retaining all of the bad parts, especially in terms of expanding the market for stolen identities. Even though telephone networks have long been used by scammers and spammers/telemarketers, we've never needed a 'Telephone Driver's License.'"
Slashdot is getting out of hand (Score:3, Insightful)
Where does the stupidity end?
we need a law? (Score:5, Insightful)
since when do laws stop the bad guys?
From the email cited (Score:5, Insightful)
The road to ruin was paved with good intentions. However, that includes ludicrous ideas.
This is the Stupidest thing I have ever Heard!!!! (Score:1, Insightful)
WTF a licence to use the Interwebs, that is bullshit and it will never happen. that is like saying you must have a licence to use a phone, or write a letter. how retarded is this guy any why is it news worthy?
System administrator Driver's License (Score:4, Insightful)
Oh, wait...
Great segue (Score:5, Insightful)
Cui Bono? (Score:4, Insightful)
Of course, it would be completely coincidental that Microsoft would offer training, software and certification to help get your Internet driver's license, right?
Only if... (Score:1, Insightful)
1984 is not a manual (Score:4, Insightful)
Translation (Score:5, Insightful)
In other words, Windows doesn't suck - The users do.
The drivers license analogy is being used to shift some of the blame from the OS to its users.
I agree (Score:3, Insightful)
What the hell is this bonehead talking about? They have a 90% market share. Just make up a required course that people must take to buy your software and be done with it. Or make it so that IE doesn't work unless you have used a smart card that reads your license.
No license for having children (Score:5, Insightful)
Stupid suggestion =/= serious threat (Score:4, Insightful)
The article linked in the article posted here provides some context [rawstory.com]. He seemed to have been talking about this as a way of preventing cyber attacks, you'd have your license revoked if your computer was compromised and could be used in an attack. MS seems to have been trying to cover their asses: "It's not our fault, if we would just put this intrusive system in place, which has no chance of working, but more importantly would never be funded and never built, then the problem will be solved." The next time a problem with MS products creates a serious problem, they'll say "We told you so! If you had just put up a billion dollars to make the drivers license system, it might not have completely failed, and this could have been avoided! Your fault!"
Re:I Don't See That Anyone Has Yet "Godwinned" (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:1984 is not a manual (Score:5, Insightful)
I swear there's a certain class of people that don't understand that concept or maybe they do and they just really hope they get to be the masters pet.
I think most of them never reflect enough to be more than vaguely aware of it, they just think in terms of controlling their environment in a way that benefits themselves. A few of the brighter ones do have an idea of where its going, but they don't care.
I think most of the rest of us aren't smart or powerful enough to manipulate the system very much that way, but in a sense we have it coming, because we do not sufficiently value freedom. And I don't just mean freedom from oppressive governments and big business, but also freedom from lots of other things ranging from debt to chronic dependence on prescription drugs.
And yes, almost everyone wants to be the masters pet. You can cut the head off of practically any abusive power structure and it will grow back, because nearly everyone's trying to climb one rung higher on the backs of those beneath them.
On the up side, that's only half the dynamic. Some things are getting worse, but some things are getting better also.
Licences for OS (Score:5, Insightful)
Perhaps the licences should be handed out to Operating Systems based on compliance with web standards... I wonder if MS Windows would be given one?
How about a license to *write* an OS? (Score:1, Insightful)
Instead of a license for users, there should be a license to write an OS.
Nobody at Microsoft would qualify, judging by the POSes they have released since the 1980s.
This from the company who made IE (Score:2, Insightful)
Excuse me, why is anyone listening to what MS has to say about Internet security, again?
Re:If you drunk e-mail... (Score:5, Insightful)
This is so Microsoft. Their response to any problem is to want more control. (A bit like most governments, actually)
Interestingly, this is the exact opposite of Open Source, or perhaps Wikipedia.
They are absolutely committed to the cathedral, with no thought of the bazaar.
And, for a while, it works.
Marketing (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:we need a law? (Score:5, Insightful)
More importantly, this measure is not targeted at "bad guys". When some idiot such as this Craig Mundie speaks about this concept of the "internet driver's license", what he is campaigning for is the ability to not only identify everyone who uses the internet but also the convenience of having any state's repressive power to ban anyone from the internet who disrespected any arbitrary rule these fools are trying to impose on the rest of the world. And the thing is, we aren't talking about criminal acts, as these are already punished by imprisonment. This sort of measure is intended to open the door for the ability to inflict arbitrary punishment on those who do not follow rules set forth by righteous idiots who believe they know better than the stupid masses.
But hey, let's call it "driver's license", as it's a very convenient term to associate with this oppressive measure as it's widely regarded by society as banal government grant. This sort of totalitarian measure desperately needs a cuddly face to be able to fly. Let's not mention what it really is: a corporate-tailored totalitarian attack on individual freedom intended to punish non-criminal acts which are frowned upon corporate execs such as mr Craig Mundie.
Re:If you drunk e-mail... (Score:5, Insightful)
or perhaps Wikipedia.
If you read /. often, you'd know Wikipedia is far less free than it used to be. We even have some trolls who post complaints about Wikipedia editors here. They are people who have gotten fed up with the current "I will control whatever happens on my pages" territorial mindset of some of the editors there who have all day to police their "domains".
This sort of thing drives away and discourages many people from contributing.
Re:If you drunk e-mail... (Score:4, Insightful)
And taking a joke too far will carry the death penalty!
Re:This is the Stupidest thing I have ever Heard!! (Score:3, Insightful)
Such bullshit will only 'never happen' so long as there are intelligent people sufficiently informed and mobilised to oppose it.
Before trying to manage the whole Internet (Score:4, Insightful)
Maybe he should be back in Redmond trying to fix his company's joke of an R&D process (ZUNE!!!) rather than pontificate at Davos to VIPs who actually might mistake him for somebody with a clue about technology.
Windows not road ready (Score:2, Insightful)
There's no way Windows would pass any kind of Internet-readiness test, it gets viruses and lacks the basic network security features of Unix systems. So it is weird to hear this guy say our Internet "cars" need certification.
Do you think you need to take a test to use an iPad? The reason so many XP are out there is the massive user training to go to a newer Windows nets no productivity benefit, yet people trade in their old phones for iPhone and without any training the Web browser and a couple of key apps make them immediately more productive.
Apple is working hard so computing is easy, the Unix community is working hard so computing is safe, and Microsoft says you need to take a test and get a license.
Re:Actually, I think they have a point (Score:5, Insightful)
Suddenly P2P programs can't get accredited anywhere, regardless of their legitimate use because they 'don't meet standards' or other such vague explanation, and exorbitant fees are charged for processing applications that cut the smaller players out of the market.
I would oppose any measure that seeks to control access to the internet. I'll gladly tolerate spam and phishers if it means I can do what I goddamned well please with the internet I pay for.
Funny (Score:4, Insightful)
Copyright protection (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Proof (Score:4, Insightful)
An extension to the idea (Score:4, Insightful)
I think it would be even better if we mandate a security licence for designing, implementing and deploying operating systems/web browsers/etc that access the network.
For example, if you tried that for a couple of decades and could not get it right, then maybe your licence should be revoked and reinstated only after proving you code correct and only in a limited market first. (For example, desktops only, no laptops, no wireless etc.)
I really hope this will get traction!
OS restriction and pervasive DRM (Score:1, Insightful)
They won't get away with Windows-only, but they could require that you get your OS from a certified vendor. For the Linux crowd that means Red Hat Enterprise Linux ($$$) and friends.
They could require some sort of DRM, perhaps with crypto signing that covers everything from the boot loader (checked by BIOS) down to the apps (only signed apps can make network connections).
Re:No license for having children (Score:5, Insightful)
Seems like there are a lot of more important ones that should get priority.
Do you plan to put people in jail for having children or take their children from them?
Maybe freedom means some people fail.
Drivers Licenses Help? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Questions (Score:3, Insightful)
I had very similar thoughts...that, and the fact that the RIAA/MPAA would just *LOVE* a system that matches identities with IP addresses and could derivatively add "unlicensed data transmission", "allowing an unlicensed minor to go online", "unreasonable network congestion", and any number of other crimes to file sharing. Oh...and bucks to beans that they would add questions like "downloading music and movies is: A.) a good idea, but only if you pay for it B.) a guaranteed way to get viruses, C.)piracy (except in the case of A), D.) All of the above" to the test.
Re:we need a law? (Score:3, Insightful)
You know, this isn't really a response to you, but while reading your post it occurred to me that any company *can* make a network that sits on top of the internet, to which all those rules apply. If Microsoft wants to create a Microsoft network of some kind, they can implement any restriction they want ... maybe the licensed, approved-user-only model will be compelling. With the XBox, MS already controls a platform pretty well, and ... well, to tell the truth, XBoxLive or whatever the network is that you play games on is a MS only network that MS controls the hardware and the access to. So if MS really believes in it, why not require a license to access the MS Xbox internet?
Man, a license for the internet ... the stupidity, it burns.
Re:Why do you have a steering wheel in your pants? (Score:3, Insightful)
But he's saying it's the internet that needs a license, not computers. So having computers that just did online things would not solve his perceived problem, but worsen it. To solve his problem, you'd need computers that refuse to connect to the web unless you had a license.
Basically, I think his comments reflect Microsoft's lingering fear of the internet - because Microsoft controls the desktop, and the web is a threat to that control.
Re:we need a law? (Score:3, Insightful)
LoB
Re:No license for having children (Score:4, Insightful)
Maybe freedom means some people fail.
While I sense this post is primarily founded in snarky sarcasm, I have to point out how profoundly insightful that phrase is.
Freedom means some people fail.
Alas, that is what is lost on so many....
Re:If you drunk e-mail... (Score:4, Insightful)
Interestingly, this is the exact opposite of Open Source, or perhaps Wikipedia.
Have you BEEN to wikipedia lately?
The moderators there LOVE control.
Re:Windows not road ready (Score:3, Insightful)
lacks the basic network security features of Unix systems.
Wait, what? I know in the past windows security was a joke, but what basic network security features does it lack? In Windows 7 you don't run as administrator by default, and it comes with a firewall. Permission levels have been there for a long time. What security features are you talking about?
Re:No license for having children (Score:3, Insightful)
And justice means that you help them recover from that failure and maybe do better next time, not leave them swinging in the wind.