In a recent blog, Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, emphasized that privacy is not just an abstract concept but a foundation for personal freedom, social order, and technological development. As technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and brain-computer interfaces expand data collection and analysis capabilities, risks to privacy are becoming increasingly serious.
However, Buterin believes that advanced tools like ZK-SNARKs (zero-knowledge proofs) and Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) can help verifiably protect privacy, while calling on the Web3 community to actively promote security standards and solutions in the context of increasing centralization trends.
Buterin argues that privacy provides space for individuals to live according to their needs and goals without worrying about how their actions are evaluated in complex "social games", including political pressure, social media, or commercial mechanisms. He shares a personal story about being filmed and spread online without consent, illustrating that privacy is especially important for those in different circumstances. Without privacy, every action becomes a balancing act between personal interests and others' perceptions, thereby eroding personal freedom.
Moreover, Buterin warns that AI and future technologies, such as brain-computer interfaces, could penetrate deeper into personal life, even reading our thoughts. Without protective measures, privacy will continue to be threatened by technology business models based on data exploitation without users' explicit consent.
One of Buterin's prominent arguments is that privacy plays a crucial role in maintaining basic social mechanisms. He gives an example of secret voting, an essential tool to ensure fairness in democracy. Without privacy, voters could be influenced by bribery, threats, or social pressure, disrupting the true meaning of a ballot. Similarly, systems like justice, administrative management, or corporate governance also depend on privacy to prevent manipulation and ensure fairness.
Buterin also points out that allowing governments or law enforcement agencies to access data through "backdoors" is an unsustainable solution. Centralized data is easily hackable, abusable, or can fall into the hands of untrustworthy regimes. He emphasizes that the safest approach is to minimize centralized data collection from the start, keeping data in users' hands and protecting it with robust encryption methods.
Buterin affirms that privacy is not just a defensive measure but also a driver of progress. He envisions a world where advanced encryption technologies like ZK-SNARKs or FHE allow safe data sharing without revealing personal information. This is particularly important in areas like personalized healthcare, where sensitive health or lifestyle data could improve treatment quality but also pose privacy invasion risks.
For example, air quality monitoring devices can provide useful community data without revealing users' specific locations, thanks to encryption technology. Similarly, solutions like Privacy Pools in finance allow eliminating fraudulent activities without invasive surveillance measures. These advances not only protect individuals but also open potential for international cooperation and technological innovation.
Buterin warns that without action, privacy could be eroded to its lowest point in history, especially as AI technologies and brain-computer interfaces become more prevalent. He proposes specific solutions: implementing local computing to minimize data transmission, using encryption to ensure privacy in remote computing, and requiring transparent, verifiable hardware to protect sensitive data.
Finally, Buterin emphasizes that society always needs a balance between privacy and transparency. He calls on the Web3 community and technology developers to jointly build open-source, trustworthy tools to protect everyone's privacy. In a world where data increasingly becomes a power resource, ensuring privacy is not just an individual matter but a key to maintaining freedom, order, and progress for the entire society.
Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only, not investment advice. Investors should thoroughly research before making decisions. We are not responsible for your investment decisions.
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