Global ID, Trusted Systems, and Communications Markets

Published: Apr 15, 2000
Updated: Apr 15, 2000
Section: Network Security Library :: Privacy
Author: Jonathan Weinberg
Company: Wayne State University
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This paper examines the implications of technology identifying each consumer by a single globally unique identifier, or GUID. Such technology allows Internet content providers straightforwardly to identify the consumer originating any given packet stream, and to correlate incoming payment (and other) information to the information and entertainment that the content provider releases to that consumer. These systems promise to give content providers sharply expanded powers to discriminate among consumers. The paper suggest that, on a balance, this result would be a Bad Thing. Further, the result could be avoided if content providers relied on more sophisticated techniques to manage access to their information goods.

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