Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news editorial.
Nowadays, the Internet has become our second home. It is where we communicate, work, shop and socialize. But beneath the surface lies a disturbing truth. It means that we are being watched. Online surveillance has grown to unprecedented power, violating our privacy and invading every aspect of our lives. I believe that blockchain technology holds the key to regaining digital freedom.
Online surveillance is nothing new. In the early 2000s, the advent of social media and the exponential growth of Internet use led governments and businesses to view the Internet as a data gold mine. From social media platforms to search engines, almost every online service has started collecting all the information they can get. No one asked if they wanted to share their personal lives with Google, and no one told them that Amazon would know everything about them.
For many people, 2013 was probably the first time they considered the concept of online surveillance. At this time, Edward Snowden exposed a government surveillance program that essentially allowed the U.S. government to spy on its own citizens. This was a breakthrough for public awareness, but the sad truth is that it did little to slow the decline of online freedom. Today’s surveillance landscape is more complex and expansive than ever before, with advances in artificial intelligence and big data analytics enabling unprecedented levels of monitoring.
A significant part of the business model of almost every Internet company has become dependent on data collection and targeted advertising. By gathering detailed information about your behavior, preferences, and interactions, these companies can create highly personalized advertising experiences and generate revenue at the expense of user privacy. They don’t ask for it either. At least unless they are forced to, they simply take what they want and use it in whatever way will make them the most money.
On the other hand, governments justify surveillance under the guise of national security and crime prevention. Clearly, protecting citizens is a legitimate concern. There is a delicate balance between security and privacy, and this balance has tipped dangerously in favor of the former. Legislation such as the PATRIOT Act in the United States and, more recently, the Online Safety Act in the United Kingdom, have given the government broad powers to monitor online activity with little regard for oversight or transparency.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there. The technical infrastructure of the Internet itself has inherent design limitations that facilitate surveillance. Centralized servers that store massive amounts of user data are prime targets for anyone looking to access and exploit personal information. Think about the number of data breaches you see in the news. According to the ID Theft Resource Center, there were 3,205 data breaches last year alone, potentially affecting more than 350 million users.
In this context, blockchain technology emerges as a beacon of hope. On the surface, this may sound counterintuitive. Isn’t an immutable public ledger antithetical to the concept of privacy? However, blockchain shines in its ability to create permissionless incentive mechanisms. These mechanisms allow a distributed network of nodes to perform services such as routing, storage, and computation.
This potential to protect privacy is especially evident in the realm of messaging apps. Traditional messaging platforms often rely on centralized servers to store and transmit messages, making them vulnerable to hacking, data breaches, and government surveillance.
On the other hand, there are web3 apps like Session that leverage blockchain to combat surveillance through decentralization. A community-run network of nodes handles all message routing and storage and is rewarded for this with network-based cryptocurrency.
Trust is a bit of a dirty word when it comes to privacy. Centralized networks operate on a trust model where a single entity holds control and authority over the network. This requires network users to trust this entity to act responsibly. Quite frankly, the companies that run the services we all rely on have done nothing to earn that trust.
Decentralized networks completely eliminate the need for trust by ensuring that no single entity holds the most important authority. Security and privacy are enhanced by ensuring that the entire network operates safely even if some nodes are compromised. This model eliminates single points of failure, creating a trustless environment where system design and incentives maintain security and reliability without users having to trust a single entity.
This commitment to the future extends beyond messaging apps. It is a fundamental element of web3, a reimagining of the Internet that envisions a decentralized, user-centric digital ecosystem. Web3 aims to dismantle the centralized power structures that enabled widespread surveillance and put power back in the hands of the people.
This new paradigm, closer to the original vision of the Internet, allows individuals to own and manage their data and determine who can access it and for what purposes. Decentralized applications will replace existing services, providing greater transparency and security. Smart contracts reduce the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access by automating transactions and enforcing contracts without intermediaries.
I am confident that the Internet can be the bastion of freedom and privacy it was intended to be, allowing users to interact without fear of being watched or taken advantage of. Blockchain is not a panacea, but it is an important tool in the fight against online surveillance. By embracing decentralization, we can create a digital world that respects fundamental rights and empowers individuals.
The fight against online surveillance is one of the defining challenges of our time. As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, it is essential that we prioritize privacy and take decisive action to protect online freedom. Decentralization provides a way forward, allowing us to build a more secure, private, and fair Internet.