Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin states that privacy must be a primary focus for blockchain developers.
He argues against the assumption that transparency guarantees good intentions, calling it unrealistic. Buterin detailed his views in a blog post, “Why I Support Privacy.”
Privacy is Defined as Freedom, Order, Progress, and Decentralization
Buterin outlines his rationale for prioritizing privacy based on three core principles
Privacy empowers freedom by allowing individuals to live without constant worry about external perceptions.
Privacy enables social order by supporting essential societal functions.
Privacy drives progress by facilitating secure and selective information sharing.
He emphasizes privacy as vital for decentralization, preventing concentrated control over information and power.
Buterin challenges the belief in universally beneficial transparency, citing increasing untrustworthiness in political leadership and uncertain societal evolution as reasons why privacy is crucial.
Personal Privacy Concerns and Technological Advancements Highlight Need
Buterin notes his experiences with diminished privacy, such as unwanted public photos.
He warns that the need for privacy will grow alongside technological progress, mentioning brain-computer interfaces as a future concern.
Dynamic pricing by companies, potentially exploiting user data, also highlights privacy risks, according to Buterin.
Rejects Government Backdoors, Advocates Minimal Data Collection
Buterin opposes government backdoors in privacy systems, deeming them harmful.
He points out that KYC and platform data collection expose data to various entities beyond governments, including companies and intermediaries. He cites telecommunication data tracking and its illegal sales as an example of data misuse.
Buterin expresses concern about data misuse incentives and hacking risks, even for trusted governments, advocating for minimal initial data collection as the safest approach.
He raises concerns about government access to information requests, now amplified by advanced state surveillance capabilities.
ZK-Proofs Proposed as Privacy Solution
Buterin proposes zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) as a solution to enhance privacy.
He describes ZK-proofs’ capacity for controlled information sharing, enabling proof of claims without revealing extra data.
He points to ZK-proof-based identity verification as an example, allowing proof of uniqueness without extensive personal details, using methods like passports and decentralized systems.
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