From: "David E. Smith" <dsmith@midwest.net>
Date: Fri, 29 Dec 1995 17:54:23 +0800
To: lull@acm.org (John Lull)
Subject: Re: Proxy/Representation?
Message-ID: <199512290017.SAA00616@cdale1.midwest.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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At 05:07 PM 12/28/95 GMT, lull@acm.org wrote:

>> The question is: how do the current software packages handle representatives
>> and proxies for a given is-a-person?  Using PGP as an example, I can't sign
>> a message with Helen's key.  And a message signed with my key won't hold
>> as much weight because "Dave" is not "Helen."  And if every message I send
>> on behalf of Helen has to be followed up by a message from Helen stating
>> "yes, Dave may act on my behalf for this instance" then much of the point
>> of the proxy process is lost.  (i.e. the reduction of Helen's workload etc.)
>I would think a power-of-attorney, signed by Helen, would do the
>trick.  This would normally be valid for some pre-defined period, for
>a pre-defined set of transactions, and would not have to be generated
>anew each time.
That's basically the situation in the wonderful world of paper.  What
I'm interested in is how to handle the power-of-attorney case in the
world of bits.  (I've been using PGP as my example, but I'm certainly
open to software that handles it better; suggestions?)  Even if Helen
signs my PGP key, that doesn't do anything other than connect us in the
almighty Web of Trust (for whatever that's really worth).

dave

----- David E. Smith, c/o Southeast Missouri State University
1210 Towers South, Cape Girardeau MO USA 63701-4745, +1(573)339-3814
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