Yet Another Call For A 'Computer User's License'

from the license-suspended dept

It's been quite a few years, since we first heard calls for a "computer user's license" or an "internet user's license," but it seems such things have returned, with the recent call for just such a "license to compute" by a "criminologist" in Australia:

"At the moment we have drivers licences for cars, and cars are very dangerous machines. Computers are also quite dangerous in the way that they can make people vulnerable to fraud.

"In the future we might want to think about whether it's necessary there be some sort of compulsory education of people before they start using computers,"

Of course, using a car and using a computer are quite different -- and a big part of the reason for licensing drivers is the direct physical harm you can do to others with it. The issues with online scams is quite different. I'm all for more education to help people avoid such scams, but this guy doesn't make much sense when he says:

"I think at the starting point of it you need manufacturers of both hardware and software to devise technology that makes it difficult or impossible for people to be defrauded,"

Sure, that would be great. And, it would be great if cars never collided either. But, it's not so easy. But, then, what do I know? I've never received my "computer users' license."

Filed Under: computer license