I wonder if anyone would want to start a PGP key server dedicated only to *real* identities. Obviously, there is no such demand with the current ones.
This defeats the purpose for which the PGP Keyservers were created. The Keyservers were created to give a *SINGLE* place where you could go to request a PGP key for some name (and it doesn't matter whether that name is real or not). Having a keyserver "dedicated only to real identities" would violate the basis for which the Keyservers were originally created. Also, quite recently, the keyserver administrators were discussing new Keyserver sites, and we all agreed that ALL Keyserver sites would be interconnected, to make sure that anyone could get any key from any Keyserver site, no matter which server they use. By proposing a split in the Keyserver service, you propose breaking the initial assumption under which the keyservers were created: Everyone has access to the whole public keyring from any server.
And please don't start with the `that would be impossible' arguments. A key server that had the official policy `if you register here, on your honor your legal name is what you give, under penalty of public exposure if you are caught' would be enough for me.
Oh, I'm not saying that this is impossible. It is possible. It is, however, unlikely that anyone will, and I personally will oppose any such move to provide a service such as this. It is not the job of the Keyserver to decide whether a key blongs to a real person or not. The job of the Keyserver is to provide keys. All keys. Any keys. No matter who claims to own the key. The job to decide if a key was a True Name as its owner is a matter for signators. Thats what Public Key Signatures are all about! If you create some kind of Notary Hierarchy to require two pieces of picture identification, two major credit cards, and a note from your mother, then you can guarantee that that is a True Name (assuming you believe in that hierarchy). However it is not the job of the Keyserver to provide any sort of policy as to the keys it provides. As I've said, the Keyserver is for key distribution, not for any sort of key validation. Thanks, -derek