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USPS To Provide Personal Identity Certification

Posted by timothy on from the in-their-efficient-cheerful-fashion dept.

Zentalon writes "The United States Postal Service has announced that it will provide In-Person Proofing (pdf) to physically authenticate individuals before a digital signature certificate is issued to that person. This has a bunch of interesting ramifications; for instance, I could create a simple spam filter that only accepts mail from individuals and organizations that have an authenticated certificate. It could also allow for more secure financial transactions. Anyone know if any other national postal services are planning the same thing?" Funny, they don't seem to always know where to deliver so-called first-class mail ...

3 of 259 comments (clear)

  1. The Post Office? Seriously? by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 5, Funny
    Of course, your certificate will be snailed to you on the back of a postcard. 10% of them will be lost. Complaints will be handled by people too slow to work at the Department of Motor Vehicles. And although they'll only cost $0.37 to start, their price growth will outstrip inflation. When a competing company starts doing the same things with better service and prices, they'll whine that they're losing business and raise prices again.

    Other than that, I'm sure it'll be great. When will my local branch (literally in a small town in Nebraska) have their PKI training day?

    --
    Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  2. Seriously. by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 5, Funny
    Funny, they don't seem to always know where to deliver so-called first-class mail ...

    I hear ya there.

    The USPS could learn a thing or two about accuracy and error-prevention from Slashdot.

    fnord

    --

    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

  3. USPS User Experience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    User enters post office. Waits 20 minutes in line. Gets to front of the line.

    Agent: (slowly) May I help you?
    User: I'd like to get a certified digital ID.
    Agent: (slowly) Okay, please go to the back of the room and fill out form 2219. When you're done, please bring it back to the front.
    User searches a while
    User: Where's the form?!
    Agent: (slowly) If it's not there, we're out. You can always call 1-800-ASK-USPS for more information.
    User: But they told me to come here! You have to verify my ID!
    Agent: (very slowly) I'm sorry, you'll have to speak to the manager. He's gone for the day. You'll have to come back Monday at 10 am.
    User: AAAAIIIEEEEEEE!!!!! runs screaming from the post office

    Yeah, this will be a big hit.