Identity Resolution Daily Links 2008-2-22
[Post from Infoglide Software] The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Online Auctions
“ONLINE AUCTIONS ARE FABULOUS! . . . The consumer generally gets what they buy, and the rating system utilized by the major net sellers provides a fairly reasonable community policing policy, and so what is the big deal? . . . The issue is that the unintended consequence of the anonymous seller is that the ‘chain of custody’ of the goods is unknown. Why does that matter? Well, in the most dire circumstances a seller could be selling toys with lead paint or recalled merchandise that is unsafe. But even if no one is physically hurt, there are still vast amounts of products that are acquired by theft and fraud and then resold on these wonderful auction sites.”
Evolution of Security: And Now, a Word from Our Lawyers…
“In regard to comments questioning the constitutionality of TSA’s airport security screening procedures, the courts have addressed the issue and disagree with the notion that our procedures are unconstitutional.”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What not to buy on eBay
“The National Retail Federation, a trade group based in Washington D.C., has put out a warning to consumers urging caution in buying household items on Internet auction sites. The warning follows a high-profile bust of an organized crime ring in Florida that is believed to have stolen more than $100 million in health and beauty items over the past five years. Organizers of the crime rings often sell the stolen goods online.”
USATODAY: Most states give green light to tamper-proof IDs
“Forty-four states are moving ahead to comply with a law requiring more secure driver’s licenses, according to the Department of Homeland Security — despite privacy concerns and worry that the new documents will be too expensive. . . . Tim Sparapani of the American Civil Liberties Union, which opposes Real ID and warns that the government won’t be able to adequately protect databases of citizens’ personal information, says some states applied for the extension ‘to run out the clock on the Bush administration.’”
Jeff Jonas: Algorithms At Dead-End: Can’t Squeeze Knowledge Out Of A Pixel
“Have you ever heard the expression ‘climbing trees to get to the moon’? Roughly translated this means that while one can show progress inching along (up a tree in this case) … if one stands back to look at the big picture … no matter how successful one is on this path … in is quite obvious they are not going to get to the moon … ever. I have news … for those waiting for big breakthroughs in algorithms to better make sense of transactional data (e.g., to lower false positives/negatives) they are going to be waiting a long time, actually worse, forever.”
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