17 Dec
2003
17 Dec
'03
11:17 p.m.
Given the material in the WiReD 1.6 article, how likely is it that a true anonymous digital cash system would be allowed? I know, I know; there's "no way to prevent it"; however, I think that concept is based on the premise that the Government proceeds rationally. If somebody with an axe to grind gets hold of the "kidnapped baby" scenario described in _Applied_Cryptography_, plenty of public outrage and indignation could be generated. Imagine a made-for-TV docu-drama that shows teams of strange greasy little hackers hunched over their glowing workstations, wailing kidnapped babies piled in a corner. Go on, reassure me that "all is well". -- Mike McNally