The big technology news in Toronto today (where I am for a digital marketing conference) is that Microsoft has a digital identity management plan that will save us all from identify fraud.

Ann Cavoukian, the Ontario information and privacy commissioner, was just on CBC Newsworld giving an impassionated speech on the wonders of Microsoft and the 7 Laws of Identity. We must fear spam and phishing and hacking and fraud, and instead of protecting ourselves and being smart about the kind of information we willing give out, we should embrace these 7 laws and the people who will protect us. We can go on blindly through the digital day, superman Microsoft is watching our back.

Link to press release.

I like SXIP’s approach to digital identity rather than these 7 laws, but maybe I’m out to lunch. Is this a huge problem or is the perception of this problem huge?

I don’t want my identity stolen and I have sympathy for people who do fall victim to fraud and identity theft, but I also think you have to be smart about how the world works. Don’t write down your password. Don’t use the same password for everything. Don’t let other people have access to your login and password, especially for your bank. Don’t give more information than necessary.

Again, maybe I’m simplifying it. What do you think?