DAVID JANES says that Microsoft’s Palladium program will fail because no one but Microsoft wants it.

The Palladium will fail as a PC technology, for the simple reason that it offers little to anyone. To the end user, there is seemingly no benefit and many potential downsides with this new technology. For businesses, Microsoft’s dismal record at producing reliable and secure software means they would be best advised to stick with what they have for system security. For governments, the issue is even more clear cut: Palladium without a back door offers a world of unmonitorable data and Palladium with a back door means foreign governments have to worry about their citizen’s data being secretly read by the US.

Microsoft Bob, meet Palladium; Palladium meet Bob.

I hope he’s right.

UPDATE: Dan Gillmor is less sanguine.