id cards

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4625971.stm I was checking
out the BBC website and hit the conversation on ID cards.

One of the reasons for ID'cs is identity fraud. Question How does a
physical thing like an ID card help with online identity fraud ?

If the government wants to stop identity fraud they should try this.

Set up a central website for on line Idenities. A huge repository of
PGP digital signature net. Give away free the software to let
websites check if you are you ( in the UK ) so that this becomes a
popular way of checking.

As pointed out the French don't seem to have any less identity fraud
( on line ) than we do.