NSTIC Charter

(1) DISCUSSION GROUP NAME (and any acronym or abbreviation of the name): The DG name, acronym and abbreviation must not include trademarks not owned by the Organization, or content that is infringing, harmful, or inappropriate.

National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace Discussion Group (NSTIC-DG)

(2) DISCUSSION TOPIC/PURPOSE/MOTIVATION: Please provide a clear statement of the topic, purpose, and/or motivation for requesting the formation of this DG.

The purpose of the NSTIC discussion group is to provide a centralized Kantara Initiative Discussion Group to facilitate:

  • feedback to Notices of Inquiry and/or comment periods
  • planning of NSTIC focused workshops or event sessions and speakers 
  • possible development of position papers

It is anticipated that this DG will be comprised of stakeholders who represent area segments including: industry, user-centric, consumer, public policy, privacy, governance and international

Background:

The US Government through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) vision, mission and goals.  This strategy has a goal to foster a public/private partnership where industry and communities come together to solve the issues identified in the NSTIC to create and identity ecosystem which enables web service interactions to be:

  • Faster: Once you use your credential to start an online session, you would not need to use separate usernames and passwords for each Web site. For example, your computer or cell phone could offer your "trusted ID" to each new site where you want to use the credential. The system would work much like your ATM card works now. By having the card and a PIN you can use your ATM card all over the world. By having a credential and a password you would be able to use your trusted ID at many different sites. This saves you time while enhancing security. No more searching in your drawer for your list of passwords.
  • More convenient: Businesses and the government will be able to put services online that have to be conducted in person today like transferring auto titles or signing mortgage documents.
  • Safer: Your trust credential will foil most commonly used attacks from hackers and criminals, protecting you against theft and fraud, safeguarding your personal information from cyber criminals.
  • Private: This new "identity ecosystem" protects your privacy. Credentials share only the amount of personal information necessary for the transaction. You control what personal information is released, and can ensure that your data is not centralized among service providers.
  • Voluntary: The identity ecosystem is voluntary. You will still be able to surf the Web, write a blog, participate in an online discussion, and post comments to a wiki anonymously or using a pseudonym. You would choose when to use your trusted ID. When you want stronger identity protection, you use your credential, enabling higher levels of trust and security.

The NSTIC program office team from time to time releases a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) and/or comment period where comments are solicited from industry and communities as input to the NSTIC team for consideration.  

(3) LEADERSHIP: Proposed DG Chair subject to confirmation by a vote of the DG Participants.

Richard Wilsher, Zygma

(4) AUDIENCE: Anticipated Participants in this DG.

Industry, community groups, consortia, privacy and governance experts, international communities and individuals who would seek to provide input to the development and implementation of the NSTIC strategy. 

(5) COPYRIGHT POLICY: The Organization approved Intellectual Property Rights Policy to cover any copyright material that may be produced as a result of DG 'Participants' posts to the wiki or email archives.

Kantara Initiative IPR Policy - Creative Commons Share-Alike Attribution

(6) PROPOSERS: Names, email addresses, and any constituent affiliations of at least the minimum set of proposers required to support forming the DG. At least 3 Participants are required to request formation of a DG.

  1. Richard Wilsher, Zygma
  2. Jay Unger, VDesk Services
  3. Myisha Frazier-McElveen
  4. Rich Furr, SAFE Bio-pharma
  5. Mark Lizar, Smartspecies
  6. Dazza Greenwood, eCitizen