Vitalik Buterin spoke about privacy

Privacy plays a key role in maintaining decentralization and freedom, ensuring order and stimulating progress. The co -founder of Ethereum Vitalik Buterin wrote about this in his blog.

Why privacy is important

Previously, the confidentiality was underestimated in the crypto industry: before the advent of ZK, there was no way to provide it without trust in third parties, buterin noted. However, technology has changed, and threats have become more serious.

Artificial intelligence and neuro interfaces collect huge amounts of data. In the future, companies and states will even be able to analyze people’s thoughts. To avoid total control, Buterin proposes to actively introduce cryptographic tools:

• ZK-Snarks-prove facts without data disclosure;
• FHE (completely homomorphic encryption) – allows you to process encrypted information;
• Obfuscation (entangling code) – complicates the analysis of programs.

Privacy and obsolete ideals

Buterin wrote that confidentiality is the key to maintaining personal freedom and protecting against the influence of corporations and states. According to him, the idea of ​​complete transparency in society is useful, but no longer works.

According to Butaterin, cultural tolerance in the world regresses, and confidence in political leadership is falling. As an example, he indicated that in large countries, few people consider the leadership reasonable.

Personal experience

Buterin admitted that he was discomfort due to the lack of privacy. According to him, each action can unexpectedly become a heading in the media.

He noted that privacy is not only protection for those who do not meet social norms:

Why “loopholes for special services” is a bad idea

Some offer law enforcement agencies access to users’ data to combat crime. Buterin explained why it is dangerous:

• data is sold;
• The bases are hacked;
• Power is changing.

Privacy supports order

Secret vote – one of the examples of how confidentiality protects democracy, says Buterin. In his opinion, it would be easier for voters to bribe or intimidate in open elections. The same principle works in other areas, the developer emphasized.

Privacy accelerates progress

The co -founder of Ethereum noted that medicine, science and technology require data exchange, but people are afraid to disclose personal information. In his opinion, cryptography will help to solve the problem:

• ZK-ordering allow you to confirm age or citizenship without personality disclosure;
• Privacy Pools hide transactions, but exclude hackers;
• Local data analysis (as in ChatGPT) reduces the risks of leaks.

Possible solutions

Buterin offers:

• use ZK-Snarks, FHE, MPC;
• develop local calculations – the less data goes into the cloud, the better;
• To demand the openness of devices – neuro interfaces and cameras should be verified.

Recall, on April 12, Butaterin said that Ethereum applications require “good social philosophy” more than the blockchain infrastructure itself. As examples of such projects, he cited Railgun, Farcaster, Polymarket and Signal messenger.

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