DeKALB | President Obama has set in motion plans to create an Internet ID for all Americans.

The proposed plan will help fight against identity theft, provide people with one username and password to login to the Internet, and would increase security against hackers.

The Obama Administration stated on Jan. 7 that they plan to hand authority of this project over to the U.S. Commerce Department. This would create a public-private partnership between the government and businesses in dealing with the Internet.

H. Joel Jeffrey, professor of computer science, believes that this idea will not go far in helping anything.

“If it’s simply a new unique number, like the Social Security number, it’s nonsense, any unique number can be stolen so I cannot see how it can help anything,” Jeffrey said. “The other issue is just how big a problem identity theft is. The last data I saw showed that it’s not a very serious problem, and that, in fact, most identity theft that does happen is not online theft.”

The goal of this Internet ID is so users can create a digital identity that they will then use to make purchases and login into their bank accounts without the fear of Internet hackers, according to the plan.

Kevin Hamilton, junior computer science major, said he believes having an Internet ID is not a good idea.

“I think an Internet ID is a poor idea, it goes nowhere in ensuring an open and free Internet,” Hamilton said. “I would do everything in my power to avoid having to use it.”

Hamilton went on to say that it is just like a Social Security number.

“Social Security numbers are no different than these Internet IDs, and anyone who thinks using one ID system for the nearly 300 million people in the U.S. is a good idea, needs to learn a few things about how the world works,” Hamilton said. “Malicious persons will find some way to turn the system against us.”

Tim Ceglarek, senior business major, also believes that an Internet ID would be a bad idea.

“I can’t see how any good can come from the government being involved with the Internet,” Ceglarek said. “It’s the largest free flow of information in history, should we let the government have a hand in it in any way? I don’t think so.”