[dahart]

Are you suggesting the stakes are the same for digital communications as for condoms? How big of an actual problem is condom breakage? How big of a problem is digital surveillance and theft? How do these two problems compare economically today?

Reasons I think we might want some government certification that has real teeth include: the freedom to protect and control our own digital data. A statistically high rate of surveillance and cyber crime with no tools to prevent it impedes the very freedom you’re defending. Absolute freedom for all cannot exist. You can’t be free to keep your money & privacy while I’m free to take it. Real certifications with enforcement teeth wouldn’t solve all problems, but it might make an actual dent. It would be nice to have national security and privacy standards, make purchasing decisions easier (actually sane), prevent some of the crime before it happens, and reduce the crime and surveillance that we know exists. That’s just from a consumer point of view. I’m sure there are many many companies and organizations who would love to be able to have some level of trust in their equipment purchasing without expensive vetting (or far more realistically for most orgs, little to no vetting at all, just hope).

Didn’t the government break the Bell system apart in the first place? When did they get back together and upcharge handsets? I don’t know what you’re referring to. Are you saying that what was needed after the Bell breakup is stronger regulatory oversight with bigger teeth?