Thoughts on the potential double-edged sword of the crypto revolution regarding state surveillance.
Discussing new and promising coins such as Civic (CVC) along with potential pitfalls.
As an emphatically pro-crypto, blockchain evangelist, I think it is also important from time to time to reflect on potential detriments of "life on the blockchain."
~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as Facebook and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)
Very interesting video. I thought for a second you were going to mention ripple as the 'crypto currency ' I believe more and more people are becoming aware of cryptocurrencies given the level of media attention.
I also see that people are waking up to the fact they are in a rigged system that enslaves us all! Very interesting take on civic been used for both good and evil. We live in a world with a lot of redundant process and 'pings' as you put it, expose us every step of the way. There's so much happening in crypto at the moment, I guess we will have to see how it all pans out and be prepared for anything within our control because the people in power don't want us to be free one bit.
^This, all day long. Couldn't have said it better.
The do not want to lose control to crypto or to any identity company like Civic. Both Civic, and crypto in general will be attacked in the future, but the good thing about decentralized, distributed, software, is how resilient it is to overcoming these hurdles. The fireworks will fly, but I think in the end, crypto just offers a better business model and incentives, to deal with security issues. Specially when it's with our IDs online.
@kafkanarchy84 - As usual, you hit the nail on the head while identifying the privacy concerns. While today, bits and pieces of our personal data are floating out there (with telephone companies and various services where we need to register) in an unsecure manner, a secure solution would be great to have so that all the services can authentically get data (only when needed for authentic purposes). Therefore, Civic coin does have promise as you say. However, I also am concerned with the downside, as pointed out by you - what if the 'secure storage' gets breached???
Great video blog. Thanks for sharing. Upvoted full.
Regards,
@vm2904
It would be handy to have all that info in one place, but what is handy for you and me is also handy for criminals to try to breach and governments to use. I don't really trust any govt 100% so even if I'm doing no wrong they could in future use it against me, at least if it's bits of info spread all over it's harder to piece bits together. Call me paranoid but you got to be a bit wary especially if some nut gets into power and decides to start doing stuff that all your info would be very useful to them and detrimental to you. Upvoted your reply as I think it is very valid as is the main post which also got an upvote
Wow, Great video. Do you know this is the first time am hearing about cvc and am not a novice to crypto. Thank you very much, I surely give it a try. Also about privacy, yes although I have been faulting in that aspect, am not doing as I should. I've learnt a lot from here which I'll put to practice. Tanx
Civic sounds cool. I live in a building and have no backyard to bury gold
In my country they are trying to push through a law that allows the Secret Service (AIVD). To be able to hack into any machine they like and take your files and details. The end of digital privacy.
Wow! Friend,great information about crpto world. Yes security and privacy is the most important when ever you invest your every thing your time money and yourself. Thanks for your great belief and assurance about the cvc too. I have great faith in you, you are genius enough to make me guide in my journey of steemit community. Wish you a very good day and also make a request to see me too. Thanks.
Thanks for the advice about CIVIC!!!
nice post @kafkanarchy84
Thanks for sharing this information.
It's useful for me
Thanks for sharing such an new concept of cryptotechnology...i. e "civic coin". Brilliant idea..,which can be used everywhere with its privacy control,and with own security.. Now, waiting for how well it can be implemented and it's survival..
That is a great idea...and if really is secured. I will look into it also. the Civic coin...
Have a nice day
You wrote so beautifully, that started to follow you.
Thank you. For your great writing and for sharing
Oh! The youtube video was fun but here's more goodies - a well written piece in support of! Good stuff man. New here, filtering out the trash and following quality :)
CVC coin i too heard about it but haven't know about in details thanks for the information about it nicely explained :)
You sound just like me, investing in crypto's that sound interesting for their ideologies, rather than making pure profit. The reason I am trying to invest as many as I can into EOS is exactly because of that. I want (and see) this decentralized thing happening. Like for example NEO, after looking into it a bit I quickly got turned off, because of those centralized aspects that entice government control.
I always keep this in mind. This is why sites such as localbitcoins.com are important. Buy crypto via bank transfer and it can be traced back to you.
I wrote about this topic a while back too. A good example of government trying to adopt cryptocurrencies is the Netherlands. They are experimenting with taxing sales in BTC, for example: the reports they published put forward the idea of forcing apps like Airbnb to integrate tax calculation, so that payments in BTC can be taxed as well. Another example is that they are thinking about hardforking Openbazaar to also tax sales done in cryptocurrency. The next step, I assume, would be the outlawing of the authentic currencies over which the government does not have control over.
You can read my post here: Governments co-opting crypto is bad news for Liberty-Minded people - Looking at Dutch gov. blockchain experiments
Nice video, Graham! No Dtube though?
I definitely see your thought process on Civic, but consider the following:
Your data is already being shared as you described, so the cat's already out of the bag for the most part. The major issue is that technology, including encryption, one day will fail. It will have to be upgraded before it fails, or it will adapt after it fails.
I think the same carefulness has to be considered for all cryptocurrencies, not just Civic. I mean, if the security of Civic can be compromised, then the security of almost any cryptocurrency can be as well.
The great thing about the tech though, is it is upgradeable, and replaceable. You hack the encryption algo for Civic, Steem, Bitcoin, Eth, etc., etc., you simply move to a more secure algo. That is a great argument for Bitcoin in general. If there is a threat or a disaster, you take a snapshot of the last known good and move. Bitcoin was designed in this way. Hopefully these threats to security are addressed prior to anyone's data being affected, or at least early in the process as to protect the whole.
All this ^^^^^ is being pointed out just to get to the main point that yes all of this has potential to run into multiple security issues, but Civic and others are being designed to deal with these risks in a different manner. I don't think there is a Utopian encryption algo or any crypto that has perfect, un-hackable, security. It's software, and where there is a will, there is a way. The great thing about Civic, is that rather than storing EVERYONE'S DATA on a centralized server, the data is stored LOCALLY. So let's say there was a threat that was caught prior to an attack, or let's say that we begin to see attack's on Civic's algo and security, the hackers, government, NWO, whomever, only get to a select few (or many), but not to everyone's data before it is patched.
We see the Havoc of these big corporations trying to protect our data, as they share our data, and fail miserably. Look at Equifax recently lmao. It's impossible for them to do it, because it's impossible to do it period. All of these crypto's will face some of the same issues. All encryption will face issues at some point. Maybe not in the next 1 year, or 5 years, but probably within a decade. As bitcoin and crypto grows, there is incentive for the bad guys and governments to break it now. Financial incentive, government and corporate control incentive, etc.
So, I tend to look at it as a new security and business model. Yes, I agree, my Civic account may very well be hacked in the future, if I'm unlucky, but my identity is not sitting there on a centralized server waiting like a big honeypot with the rest of the identities. And Civic will give us control over what and who we share with, which we do not have at all now, cuz we know how the corporations and governments carelessly share our personal, private data.
I hope, maybe, that this helps you see a different take, on what you voiced as a very real, and important concern. I don't think Civic, or any crypto is perfect, and does not have vulnerabilities, THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO TRY TO ATTACK THEM! They do not want to lose this amount of control, we will see quantum computing attack blockchains at some point. But, the great thing about decentralized software is how resilient it is at adapting and over-coming, which centralized governments and corporations suck at :)
Decentralized, client-side is always greater than the current model that is being used with our data.
Great read! I love your articles, Just my 2 cents.
Summary: We are in a loop. Solutions create more intricate problems and it goes on and on. The average human must grow smarter at least at the same pace as the cumulative average of the best of us, if he must live somewhat as opposed to merely existing, at the mercy of the top feeders.
Is there an ultimate solution, I opine not. If there is one, then its way above my pretty little head.
I agree crypto can and will be used for both scenarios. If you're informed you will know what platforms and technologies benefit individual sovereignty over being controlled.
At end of the day, history has shown security through obscurity is best approach to ensure privacy in my opinion.