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Comment by teeray | Hacker News Reader

The USG just needs to choose an authentication scheme that is easily and securely implemented in smartphones, yet still accessible to the grandmas out there that will use this as their first piece of technology. Then, once adopted, they should double down and publish the full mapping of names to SSNs, eradicating any remaining value they have as anything other than a User ID.

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What happens to people without smartphones or if someone loses theirs via theft?

Stop at the Post Office to pick up your One Time Expiring Activation Code, bring along a piece of mail and a friend to vouch for you.

So if someone has a friend and a printer they can impersonate anyone? Doesn't seem like that adds much security.

At some point, identity relies on an official who is legally empowered to make a decision, and people stating things where lying would be fraud. We currently have very weak intermediary steps in the US-- transmitting 9 digits that last a lifetime-- that could be firmed up in similar ways to 2FA and notarization

I described the current process for voting. I meant it both a little facetiously, and mostly just matter of factly.

Or you simply don't have a smartphone.

> The USG just needs to choose an authentication scheme that is easily and securely implemented in smartphones

This is a fundamentally terrible idea. It assumes people must have a smartphone.

What does it take to have a smartphone? You have to commit to a monthly expense stream paid to a proprietary private company. A company who also has the power to cancel you.

No, anything that is an official government scheme must be fully implemented as a government service with zero dependencies on private companies.

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