Six Apart Launches Identity Management Tool

March 22, 2004 / Internet and Society / Comments (2)

Six Apart, the guys behind the popular blogging software Movable Type, have just created a new service in response to the growing problem of weblog comment spam, called TypeKey: "The basics about TypeKey: TypeKey is a free, open system providing a central identity that anyone can use to log in and post comments on blogs and other web sites. Why should I use TypeKey? TypeKey helps ensure that people who comment on a site have a verified identity, keeping conversations on track and helping to prevent abusive or offensive content (comment spam) from being posted. Sites that enable TypeKey have better accountability for the content that's being published. As a TypeKey user, you get your own free TypeKey Profile Page, displaying only the information you choose to share. Those who are interested in finding out more about the person behind the comments on a site can visit the identity page to see what information is publicly available. You can even publish a TypeKey Profile Page while remaining completely anonymous." I think this is a development worth watching, and might become an Orkut-like social networking tool. Who knows how it might evolve... ?

Comments

2 comments

heather / March 26, 2004 7:25 PM / #

i saw typekey, and thinking of your orkut reference i thought oo-ee, is it going to spit out foaf.rdf for me, and use this as my key?

but, hmpf, no mention of foaf anywhere. and the FAQ for typekey emphasizes: "TypeKey isn't about revealing your private information for the entire Web to consume."

i think it's unlikely it would encourage any 'networking' effects like orkut or tribe.

it sounds like the profiles are linked from the comments, but there would be no way to link people-to-people through their typekeys, would there?

you think they're missing a trick there?

Mike / March 26, 2004 7:46 PM / #

Hi Heather. Are they missing a trick? I'm not sure ... I agree that it doesn't lend itself immediately to social networking but I thought down the line, maybe. Lazy speculation on my part.

Welcome to Orkut by the way.