Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has emerged as a vocal advocate for online privacy in the face of growing government use of facial recognition technology. In a recent X post, Buterin responded to a report by Rest of World, a non-profit platform, highlighting the alarming rise of facial recognition systems deployed by governments around the world.
According to data from Steven Feldstein, a researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, facial recognition systems are now used by government agencies in a staggering 78 countries. This concerning trend highlights the shrinking space for privacy in the physical world.
Buterin’s call to action comes as no surprise. He has consistently expressed concerns about the erosion of online privacy. Just days ago, he found himself in the midst of discussions about the potential implementation of built-in transaction privacy on the Ethereum blockchain. However, Buterin acknowledged the potential drawbacks of such a move, including the impact on scalability and network efficiency.
The Ethereum development team is actively tackling scalability issues, exploring solutions like zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs). This technology allows for verification of information without revealing the underlying details. Several Ethereum protocols are already leveraging ZK-technology, including Polygon zkEVM. Despite a recent 10-hour outage that necessitated an emergency fix, Polygon zkEVM is poised for a significant upgrade. This upgrade promises a seamless transition for developers, allowing them to copy and paste their existing code onto the zkEVM platform.
Also Read: Ethereum Eyes Decentralized Future with Vitalik Buterin’s “Rainbow Staking”
Similarly, Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, is piloting a blockchain-based digital identity system using QuarkID and zkSync. This project leverages ZK-rollups, another application of ZK-proofs, to enhance government operations while preserving user privacy.
The ultimate goal of these initiatives aligns with Buterin’s unwavering stance on online privacy. As the use of facial recognition technology by governments continues to escalate, the development of privacy-preserving blockchain solutions like zk-proofs becomes increasingly crucial. Whether through Ethereum’s core development or through innovative protocols like Polygon zkEVM and zkSync, the blockchain community is actively responding to the growing need for a balanced approach – one that fosters innovation while safeguarding individual privacy.
About The Author
