Web leaders initiate gov't open identity pilot program

Yahoo!, PayPal, Google, Equifax, AOL, VeriSign, Acxiom, Citi, Privo and Wave Systems have announced they will support the first pilot programs designed to implement a federal government initiative designed to make it easier for individual to register and participate in government websites. The companies will act as digital identity providers using OpenID and Information Card technologies. <br /><br />The pilot programs are being conducted by the Center for Information Technology, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other related  agencies. The participating companies are being certified under non-discriminatory open trust frameworks developed under collaboration between the OpenID Foundation and the Information Card Foundation per the federal government Trust Framework Provider Adoption Process.<br /><br />According to the OpenID Foundation, the impetus behind the initiative is an open government memorandum issued earlier this year by President Barak Obama. Since then federal agencies have been embracing Web 2.0 technologies to improve interaction with the public. <br /><br />The announcement by these Web technology firms, according to the OpenID Foundation, “paves the way for individuals to use these new services and customize their experience on government websites without needing to reveal any personally identifiable information – including passwords. It also takes advantage of best practices from the private sector for protecting privacy and security, including making it easier for citizens to have pseudononymous interactions with government sites when desired.”<br /><br /><br /><br />