White House announces national online identity plan

Howard Schmidt, White House cybersecurity coordinator and special assistant to the president, on Friday unveiled a draft plan for improving online privacy and security through the use of a trusted digital identity system. The National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) seeks to improve cyberspace for all those who conduct business online. It would enable individuals to voluntarily obtain a secure credential, such as a smart identity card, from public and private sector providers to authenticate themselves online when banking, accessing electronic health records, sending email and making other online transactions. The White House is seeking comment on the draft strategy and plans to release a finalized version in the fall. — AM