David E. Smith wrote:
The question is: how do the current software packages handle representatives and proxies for a given is-a-person? Using PGP as an example, I can't sign a message with Helen's key. And a message signed with my key won't hold as much weight because "Dave" is not "Helen." And if every message I send on behalf of Helen has to be followed up by a message from Helen stating "yes, Dave may act on my behalf for this instance" then much of the point of the proxy process is lost. (i.e. the reduction of Helen's workload etc.)
I would think a power-of-attorney, signed by Helen, would do the trick. This would normally be valid for some pre-defined period, for a pre-defined set of transactions, and would not have to be generated anew each time.