Why is digital identity important?
As the old New Yorker cartoon says, “On the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.” As more transactions move online, we are seeing organized criminals and hostile nation states both weaponizing “dogs on the Internet.” Identity is the most commonly exploited attack vector used to breach systems and commit cybercrimes; more than 80 percent of breaches could be traced to some sort of compromised digital identity. Meanwhile, identity theft is soaring, subjecting consumers to billions of dollars in losses and thousands of hours of headaches trying to recover their identities.
Why does the role of the Social Security number (SSN) need to change?
The SSN was created in the 1930s as an identifier — something that helps set you apart from other people with the same name. Today, other common identifiers include your phone number, your email address, or your Instagram handle. authenticator . Authenticators, such as passwords, security keys, or biometric information, help determine whether the person claiming to be you is actually you. Unlike identifiers, authenticators are presumed to be secrets.
Why does the U.S. need to pursue international coordination and harmonization?
Consumers and businesses operate in environments beyond American borders, and other countries are also contemplating new approaches to making identity better. The United States should look for ways to coordinate with other countries and harmonize requirements, standards, and frameworks where feasible and compatible with American values.
