David Reed writes that security doesn't create trust - that building security into a system is more likely to foster mistrust:
"I think there may indeed be technological mechanisms that promote trust*. But don't try to tell me that security technology creates trust. It can't. At best it's neutral, and upon reflection, most times it increases mistrust and fear."
His footnote about technological mechanisms that promote trust says:
"Humans gain trust by interacting and 'getting to know' people. Transparent technologies that make it easy to see what people and companies are up to (in a sense the opposite of firewalls) are what help me trust. I like Reagan's saying: 'trust, but verify'. It implies that trust requires means for openness, not firewalls and secretiveness."
This is related to the comparison between hard security and soft security that I wrote about recently. Soft security is supportive of trust - it says that I trust you to behave responsibly and in good faith (although I will hold you accountable if you don't). Hard security, insofar as it is about trust at all, is often an admission that there is no trust and that we must impose constraints and controls (technical, legal or social) in order to interact.
3:17:01 PM 
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