The Satoshi Revolution: A Revolution of Rising Expectations
Section 2: The Moral Imperative of Privacy
Chapter 6: Privacy is a Prerequisite of Human Rights
Segment 4: Privacy: Do Not Come Late to the Revolution
“I think the Mailman is taking us on one at a time, starting with the weakest, drawing us in far enough to learn our True Names—and then destroying us.” ― Vernor Vinge, True Names
Privacy is not dead, as many court intellectuals pronounce it to be, usually in preparation for its burial. Privacy is being renewed. Cryptocurrency is transforming it into a far stronger tool for human freedom. People with a fondness for the old version of privacy need not be concerned, however. Curtains can still be pulled over windows at night; financial transactions can still be encrypted. The new form of privacy is a compatible alternative. But much of it may seem counter-intuitive.
True Names provides a point of reference for science fiction fans. The 1981 novella by Vernor Vinge is sometimes credited with launching the cyberpunk movement because it explores so many of the themes that were later developed in great detail. One theme: the protection of a true identity is vitally important to the freedom and the survival of an individual. A true identity is the name or other identifying information that can lead people directly to someone else’s front door, whether the journey is to shake the person’s hand or to arrest him. True Names has special relevance to the new privacy being created by cryptocurrency because it highlights the shift in the focus of privacy away from transactions to identities. Transactions and identities are no longer irrevocably connected. Indeed, they can be totally separated. And there are great advantages to doing so.
People will stumble over the issue of transparency when they consider crypto privacy. Because transactions on the blockchain are 100% transparent and available to everyone, cryptocurrency is said to be the death of privacy. This is not death; it is a necessary redefinition. The nexus of privacy is shifting from the record of transactions to the identity of the transactors. An intimate connection between the two can exist, to be sure. Transactions can reveal identity in several ways. The user may not go through a mixer or tumbler, or he may not use a currency designed to protect privacy. It may seem like too much trouble to use a unique digital address for each transfer, as Satoshi Nakamoto suggested. Or he may make the cardinal error of all privacy mistakes; that is, open an account with a centralized exchange. A careless user can disclose a True Name.
A careful user has a greater ability to preserve privacy today than ever before. Consider just one question: Who is Satoshi Nakamoto? The identity of a public figure who had an immense impact and a definite computer presence may never be known because he used his own privacy tools.
The shift
