1. An Analysis of the Online Identity Battleground
aestetix
Shmoocon 2013
Monday, February 18, 13

2. Do you... Google?
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3. ... wait, wtf?
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4. Thesis Statements
✤ Identity is multifaceted (“prismatic”)
✤ There is no such thing as a “real” name
✤ Imposing a singular identity is not only harmful, it doesn’t work
Monday, February 18, 13

5. What is NSTIC?
✤ National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC)
✤ Created by Obama Administration to address current challenges in
digital identity (passwords, identity theft, etc)
✤ Update from the February 2013 Plenary
Monday, February 18, 13

6. What is NSTIC?
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7. What is NSTIC?
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8. Myth #1
Only pedophiles, criminals, and cyber-
bullies do not want to use their legal
names online!
What is this “nym” thing?
http://mythbustersresults.com/photos/adam-savage-mythbusters.jpg
Monday, February 18, 13

9. What is a “nym”?
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10. What is a “nym”?
✤ Identity is not the same thing as a name
✤ Name: a label or symbol that is used to identify a person,
thing, or concept within a given context
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11. Various Nom de Plumes
✤ Publius
✤ J.K. Rowling
✤ Nicholas Bourbaki
✤ Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa
✤ Richard Bachman, Deep Throat, Voltaire,
George Eliot, the Bronte Sisters...
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12. Various Nom de Plumes
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13. What is a “nym”?
Is identity internal or external?
✤ Self image (“id, ego and superego”)
✤ Reputation and the Citizen Kane style construct
✤ “The only thing worse than being talked about
is not being talked about.” --Oscar Wilde
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Kane
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14. Why do names matter?
✤ Valerie Plaine
✤ Witness Protection Program
✤ AOL and Netflix databases
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15. What are social networks?
✤ A “social network” is a force that brings people or their
personas together on a regular basis.
✤ A “friend” is a person that you would choose to be in contact
with.
✤ An “institution” is a custom, practice, relationship, or
significant behavior pattern within a social network.
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16. Defining “identity”
✤ Carl Jung:
✤ Rational or
“Conscious”
✤ Emotional or
“Unconscious”
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17. Bringing Identity Online
✤ aestetix’s Method (draft spec):
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18. So what’s a “nym”?
✤ Pseudonym - a name that might not found on or linkable to
any previously mentioned documents
✤ Polynym - a name consisting of multiple words or symbols
✤ Mononym - a name consisting of one word or symbol
✤ Autonym - a name bestowed upon oneself
✤ Anonym - a name representing anonymity
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19. Why not “real” name?
✤ Negative implications
✤ Lack of agency
✤ Easily substituted with
better alternatives
✤ Where does this concept come from, anyways?
http://www.shescribes.com/2011/07/i-cant-believe-its-not-butter-toast-tweet-100-giveaway.html
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20. What are social networks?
✤ Joseph Campbell: right hand
path, left hand path, and the
Hero’s Journey
✤ General Petraeus
✤ Why do hacker handles matter?
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21. Establishing Identity Online
✤ Zooko’s Triangle
http://www.skyhunter.com/marcs/petnames/IntroPetNames.html
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22. Myth #2
We can stop cyber-bullying by forcing
people to use their legal names
People who do not use their legal
names do not contribute positively to
discussions
http://mythbustersresults.com/photos/adam-savage-mythbusters.jpg
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23. Do Names Matter?
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24. Do Names Matter?
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25. Do Names Matter?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phineas_Gage http://circularabsurdity.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-steampunk-art.html
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26. Do Names Matter?
✤ Case Study:
TechCrunch
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27. Do Names Matter?
✤ Case Study:
TechCrunch
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28. Do Names Matter?
✤ Case Study:
TechCrunch
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29. Do Names Matter?
✤ Case Study: Disqus, 60+ million users (Jan 10, 2012)
http://disqus.com/research/pseudonyms/
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30. Do Names Matter?
✤ Case Study: Disqus, 60+ million users (Jan 10, 2012)
http://disqus.com/research/pseudonyms/
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31. Total Lack of Names
✤ Social Number (launched Dec 2012)
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32. Total Lack of Names
✤ Social Number (launched Dec 2012)
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33. Total Lack of Names
✤ Social Number (launched Dec 2012)
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34. Myth #3
We cannot trust anyone who does not
use their legal name online
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35. Trust and Reputation
https://twitter.com/AntDeRosa/status/292796075348197376
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36. Trust and Reputation
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37. Trust and Reputation
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38. Trust and Reputation
✤ “Klout” scores
http://www.socialbrite.org/2010/07/22/klout-measure-your-twitter-influence/
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39. Trust and Transparency
✤ What does transparency mean?
✤ Is there such a thing as full transparency?
✤ Who decides how transparent we get to be?
✤ Active versus Passive communication of personal
information
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40. Myth #4
We can trust online “identity
providers” like Google and Facebook
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41. Does Identity Matter?
Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman at Google:
✤ “The only way to manage this is true transparency and no
anonymity. In a world of asynchronous threats, it is too
dangerous for there not to be some way to identify you. We
need a [verified] name service for people. Governments will
demand it.” (Techonomy, August 2010)
✤ “If you have something that you don't want anyone to know,
maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."(CNBC
Interview, December 2009)
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42. Does Identity Matter?
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO at Facebook:
✤ “The days of you having a different image for
your work friends or co-workers and for the
other people you know are probably coming to
an end pretty quickly.
Having two identities for yourself is an
example of a lack of integrity.” (Interview,
October 2011)
http://allinio.com/2012/12/holiday-carol-good-king-zuckerberg/
Monday, February 18, 13

43. Does Identity Matter?
Chris “moot” Poole, Founder of 4chan
✤ “The portrait of identity online is often painted
in black and white. Who you are online is who
you are offline.
“Human identity doesn't work like that online
or offline. It's not 'who you share with,' it's 'who
you share as.’ Identity is prismatic.” (Web 2.0)
http://www.hollywood.com/news/New_Yogi_Bear_Poster_Reveals_His_Darkest_Secret/7082914
Monday, February 18, 13

44. Recap of 2011
✤ My G+ account was suspended
✤ Confusion over “common name”
✤ Request for government issued ID
✤ Questions about ID != common name
✤ Account suddenly reinstated
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/nym%20wars
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45. Recap of 2011
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46. I Wasn’t Alone!
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47. Where are we now?
✤ Updates to the Google+ policy (as of 10/27/2012):
✤ Limiting name changes (3 every 2 years)
✤ Names appeal (includes “significant following”)
✤ Nicknames policy
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48. Where are we now?
✤ Google’s idea of “pseudonyms”:
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49. Where are we now?
✤ Google patent #8271894 (granted Sep 18, 2012)
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50. Where are we now?
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51. Where are we now?
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52. Where are we now?
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53. Bringing Identity Online
✤ Google’s Method:
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54. Where are we now?
✤ “Snitchgate” (September 2012)
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55. Where are we now?
✤ Instagram Fiasco (Jan 22, 2013)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57565293-93/instagram-account-crackdown-alarms-members-who-think-theyve-been-hacked/
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56. Where are we now?
✤ Instagram Fiasco
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57. Where are we now?
✤ Instagram Fiasco
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58. Where are we now?
✤ Questions for thought:
✤ Who are Google and Facebook trying to
“impress”?
✤ Who else might have access to this data?
✤ Why would Chewbacca, an 8-foot-tall Wookie,
want to live on Endor with a bunch of 2-foot-
tall Ewoks? Is that his real name?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:0330chewbacca.jpg
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59. Myth #5
We are currently fixing this
through legislation.
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60. Legal issues?
✤ South Korea Real Name Verification Law (2003-2012)
✤ Required Resident Registration Number to be used for
verification to improve “quality”
✤ Repealed in 2012 after Korea Communications Commission
found a 0.9% change
✤ Follow-up study by Carnegie-Mellon
Monday, February 18, 13

61. Legal issues?
✤ Strengthening Network Internet Protection (China)
✤ Passed on 28 December 2012
✤ Section VI: Network service providers that handle website
access services for users, handle fixed telephone, mobile
telephone and other surfing formalities, or provide information
publication services to users, shall, when concluding agreements
with users or affirming the provision of service, require users to
provide real identity information.
http://chinacopyrightandmedia.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/national-peoples-congress-standing-committee-decision-concerning-strengthening-network-information-protection/
Monday, February 18, 13

62. Legal issues?
✤ California Proposition 35 (passed Nov 6, 2012)
✤ Californians Against Sexual Exploitation (“CASE”)
✤ Section 290.014 (b): If any person who is required to register
pursuant to the Act adds or changes his or her account with an
Internet service provider or adds or changes an Internet
identifier, the person shall send written notice of the addition or
change to the law enforcement agency or agencies with which he
or she is currently registered within 24 hours. ...”
✤ EFF filed lawsuit, injunction granted as of Jan 11, 2013
Monday, February 18, 13

63. Legal issues?
✤ German Telemedia Act (passed 26 February 2007)
✤ Section 13 (6): “The service provider must enable the use of
telemedia and payment for them to occur anonymously or via a
pseudonym where this is technically possible and reasonable. The
recipient of the service is to be informed about this possibility.”
http://www.cgerli.org/fileadmin/user_upload/interne_Dokumente/Legislation/Telemedia_Act__TMA_.pdf
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64. Moving Forward
✤ Join NymRights! (www.nymrights.org)
✤ Anyone can be an IDESG/NSTIC member!
Monday, February 18, 13

65. Questions?
✤ @aestetix
Monday, February 18, 13