Technology Liberation Front - Latest Comments in Amateurs Study Cryptography; Professionals Study Economics

Re: Amateurs Study Cryptography; Professionals Study Economics

Traveller — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:29:35 -0000

Very very interesting post..I like this one. gotta bookmark this one.

Re: Amateurs Study Cryptography; Professionals Study Economics

Adam — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:15:40 -0000

Thanks for the great review Jim!

To the point being discussed in the comments, my understanding of 1386 (and this is explicit in the preamble of the law) is that it was intended to allow people at risk of identity theft to protect themselves. The transparency it delivers is an unexpected consequence. As I'm sure readers of this blog are aware, designing such a mechanism is quite tricky, and anticipating all of the consequences is even harder.

Re: Amateurs Study Cryptography; Professionals Study Economics

Jim Harper — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:10:26 -0000

Interesting point, e_f, but what was SB 1386 intended to do, and how well has it achieved that goal? Please point to any evidence you can muster for either question.

Re: Amateurs Study Cryptography; Professionals Study Economics

eee_eff — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:35:11 -0000

The authors revel in the breach data that has been made available to them thanks to disclosure laws like California’s SB 1386. A libertarian purist must quibble with mandated disclosure when common law can drive consumer protection more elegantly. But good data is good data, and the happenstance of its availability in the breach area is welcome.

That's hardly a happenstance-the law is doing what it was intended to do. The correct term for that is: Good Design.