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Under the pretense of fortifying digital security in the United States, newly proposed legislation seeks to transform the United States Postal Service (USPS) into a hub for digital IDs. Senators Ron Wyden, a Democrat, and Bill Cassidy, Republican, have put forth the bill known as the Post Office Services for Trustworthy Identity Act. The proposed legislation opens new discourse on digital privacy and the potential for abnormal surveillance measures, sparking debate over the delicate balance between biosecurity and preserving citizens’ fundamental rights.

We obtained a copy of the bill for you here [PDF].

The proposed legislation comes in response to the piecemeal approach taken towards biometric identification in America. Historically, disjointed programs have been created by different states and separate agency undertakings, giving rise to the necessity for a more coherent national strategy. The Post Office Services for Trustworthy Identity Act could mark a landmark shift, focusing on service provision rather than overarching digital ID strategy.

  • @__init__
    6•1 year ago

    I’m curious. What would make a different number more secure than a SSN?

    • @[email protected]English
      15•1 year ago

      SSN’s main issues are that it’s hard to change, and it’s predictable. If they know your date of birth and where you were born then they can reliably determine your SSN. And once your SSN is out, it’s very difficult to change unless your identity was already stolen.

      I have no idea why you just asking a question got down voted.

      • @__init__
        5•1 year ago

        Makes sense. Even just being able to easily change it on your own would go a long way. I have a hard time seeing public key cryptography really catching on for something like this, but maybe it will.

    • Dark ArcEnglish
      4•1 year ago

      You wouldn’t use a number, you would use something closer to a yubikey/passkey.