Update VTAC to MIKE
I’ve been operating the VTAC (Verified Trusted Authenticity Certificate) service as a marker of trust for many years. Originally based on the idea of digital browser certificates, the idea now feels a bit dated and generic.
In an effort to update the concept I’m proposing an updated brand: MIKE, the Mark of Identity and Knowledge Endorsement.
This is a trust mark that leans more human and therefore trustworthy. It's personal, allowing people or companies to proclaim they are "Endorsed by MIKE."
Also there is some room to play with this idea. There could be multiple tiers. Perhaps some elements of scarcity. Defining what happens if an endorsement is revoked. Maybe there are different styles of tattoos based on various levels of trust?
Proposal: Do we leave VTAC alone, or evolve to MIKE. And if an update is approved, how much involvement should shareholders have in shaping the system?
A) Keep VTAC branding and system as is. Stick with the current Verified Trusted Authenticity Certificate. No changes.
B) Update branding to MIKE and form a shareholder committee. Collaborative shareholder-led design process.
C) Update branding to MIKE, but Mike will design the new rules, and bring it back to shareholders for final approval. Mike builds the first draft of MIKE, with another shareholder vote for approval.
D) Update branding to MIKE and let Mike run the whole thing himself. Move fast. No need for shareholder approval or involvement. Just make it happen.
E) Abstain / No opinion.
Disclaimer: ChatGPT was used in the making of the header image. It was based on the WIRED photo of Mike and too funny not to use it here.
30 users voted with 6621 shares
I voted for option A, because I didn't think that there was enough information about VTAC in the proposal. I went to the website and read the whitepaper. While I now understand the concept, it's not clear how successful VTAC has been and whether updating it to MIKE is worthwhile. I need more information!
The history of VTAC comes from my time at Panic when the company was working to get an extended validation certificate and I asked, "Why are we paying money and working so hard to get approved by an organization that none of our customers knows about?" and the answer was because then Safari would show the little green bar in the URL field. So I said, "Just pay me and I'll get a tattoo." And they called my bluff...;
So then I had to create a system for it. And I did, and they paid for it and paid for the tattoo (video is available deep in the blog archives on Panic). The second customer was shareholder Alex Mahan. To this day I have only two tattoos: "Panic, Inc." and "Alex Mahan."
I'd like more! And I think the initial references to the extended validation thing are lost on most people. A 'MIKE' could be presented a little less tongue-in-cheek and hopefully that would inspire more people to want to get a tattoo on my body.
I just like a bell curve
Here's the blog post: https://blog.panic.com/vtac-enhanced-website-security/
Thanks Amy! (it always takes SO MUCH CLICKING find it because they don't have an index)