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We really need positive digital ID. The US DoD has the right idea with the CAC, though really it's just a digital certificate issued by the government. The smartcard format is convenient for being wallet-able but there's plenty of other form factors for these things these days.

It amazes me that we as a society do official, important real-life things on the Internet with no way to validate our identity.

I even cringe a bit anytime someone tells me to DocuSign. Buying my house was a trip, especially all the forms that took place before closing. Like, it's great that I'm signing these things digitally, but there's still no proof that I'm the one signing these. I'm not in the presence of a notary, lawyer, or any sort of witness. I'm just clicking a link on an email and drawing my finger on the screen. That could, theoretically, be anybody who gains access to my email, with or without my permission.

But, if I'm signing with a certificate, I have provided a PIN or password to unlock this device I carry on my person, that a trusted third party had given me when proved that I am who I say I am, in person. It's a solid technology and it really needs way better adoption.

But muh mark of the beast!

I want to be able to vote online, too, but then I think about how easy it is to falsify your identify online vs in person and I don't know how it could work without introducing a new level of probable fraud.