E-Identity : Responsibility or Commodity?

The aim of this paper is to analyze importance of e-identity, related issues (e.g. trustworthiness of information, pseudonimity, privacy, fraud, property, etc.) and role of virtual life in the real one. As Internet users are in great proportion service-oriented and interested in interaction, intermediation and social network communication, the reputation of e-identity has become increasingly important. In this paper two aspects of digital identities are analyzed: encrypted identity (e.g. passwords) and personal virtual identities, used in forums, chats, blogs, etc. which are created through explicit statements (true or false) of users and by implicit ways of interaction and behaviour. After the analysis of the main types of identification and web services, results of the pilot study, conducted among students of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, regarding reliability of information of e-identity has been presented. The aim of the paper is not to list detailed issues but to raise the awareness related to the potential problems in the sphere of e-identities and suggest the appropriate actions