On 30 May 96 at 22:35, snow wrote:

In some of the discussion on this list there has been some concern about the governments position on anonymous fund transfers. Well, maybe concern is incorrect. We _know_ (or should) what it is. They are dead set against it.

Hm. The more I think about it, the more that it seems foolish to be against anonymous payee systems. Mainly because those who want it now (and who will want it in the future) and who have the resources will already have it. As for catching tax-evaders, criminals, etc... for most the five BMWs, indoor heated pool and yacht should be enough attention for those who really want to know. Of course the gov't isn't that interested in doing the legwork... better for them to have everything on a computer for easy data-crunching rather than do real footwork. (Can you say downsizing? Nah.... they'd put twice the savings into useless gadgets like attack helicopters to patrol minority neighborhoods with...) Off the track, slightly: It seems the effect that these laws have are to make it so only the very wealthy and connected (or perhaps incredibly ambitious and smart) have access to privacy and de facto loopholes in the law. The only "criminals" who will be able to get away with anything are those who are already so well off (and possibly buddy-buddy with the Powers That Bee, Bzzt!). [..]

The discussion here seems to assume that business will accept, or even welcome the ability of it's customers to remain unknown, or nymknown. It is my position (until proven wrong--please) that larger business DON'T want anonymity. They _want_ to be able to track purchases and use of their product for several reasons.

Good point. But many consumers want anonymity, or at least to control what information they give customers. Many might even settle for pseudo-anonymity (ie, account number 123456 likes to buy product X, but whoever 123456 *is* is known only to 123456....). [..]

The questions that this raises are:

1) Am I full of shit. This is very possible.

Everyone is at some time or another, unless you never eat. [..] --Mutant Rob. --- No-frills sig. Befriend my mail filter by sending a message with the subject "send help" Key-ID: 5D3F2E99 1996/04/22 wlkngowl@unix.asb.com (root@magneto) AB1F4831 1993/05/10 Deranged Mutant <wlkngowl@unix.asb.com> Send a message with the subject "send pgp-key" for a copy of my key.