Research Center: Limiting Anonymity Helps to Expose Terrorists (and Pirates)
Many people see optional anonymity as a key feature of the Internet but increasingly there are calls for stricter identity checks. Such requirements are not new. In daily life, many people have encountered situations where they have had to prove their identity. When opening a bank account, for example. But online it is rare. This should change, according to some voices. In recent years copyright holders and industry groups have called for stricter “know your business customer” rules. This effort is starting to pay off in Europe and over in the United States, similar calls are heard. Earlier this year, then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order that partially addresses this issue. The executive order aims to stop foreign cybercriminals from using US-based Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) products. Specifically, this can be achieved by requiring such services to properly verify and retain the identities of non-US customers. The U.S. Department of Commerce is considerin...
