# censorship.wtf
> Censorship resistance is core to Ethereum: a true "world computer" can't choose to exclude specific users or valid programs.
>
> The protocol is designed for permissionless access and use. Ensuring no single party can arbitrarily impose restrictions on it is of critical importance.
>
> As Ethereum becomes more consequential and its growing ecosystem complexifies, opportunites & pressures to censor increase.
>
> While these risks do get discussed, conversations on censorship resistance often center on a specific part of the stack --- ***censorship.wtf was an attempt at approaching the topic head on.***
>
> During [Devconnect 2023](https://devconnect.org/), a full day was spent discussing censorship resistance in the context of Ethereum L1, rollups, applications, infrastructure, hardware, and more.
>
> Talks and workshops took place in both [ETHGlobal Istanbul](https://ethglobal.com/events/istanbul), [DCxPrague](https://dcxprague.org/) and [over the internet](https://ethglobal.tv/censorship-wtf-qiclh). The agenda, slides & recordings are archived here.
### Agenda, slides & recordings
| NYC | Prague | Istanbul | Speaker | Topic | Recording |
|:------|:---------|:-----------|:---------------------------------|:----------------------------------------------------------------------------|:-----------|
| 3:00 | 9:00 | 11:00 | [Tina Zhen](https://twitter.com/tzhen) (Istanbul Host) | Istanbul Stage Opening + Chapter 0: Bird's Eye View of the Problem Space | |
| 3:05 | 9:05 | 11:05 | [Juan Benet](https://twitter.com/juanbenet) | [Preventing Digital Totalitarianism](https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/QmVPBgVgJBANAWX79ihDd3NQxJLGFL13bhrnwA4dPNM3Jh/2023-11-18-preventing-digital-totalitarianism.compressed.pdf) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/nK2Gdbq11CY?si=MtWu6A0Xkx0j_ZaH) |
| 3:25 | 9:25 | 11:25 | [Vitalik Buterin](https://twitter.com/VitalikButerin) | [Hardening the Ethereum Ecosystem Across the Stack](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmSijoYu67cLSKKRYG8CKRwk9yhwJ9qay5sCUm6VhWe3ZB?_gl=1*d70gc4*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDI5ODc1MS4xLjEuMTcwMDI5OTA5NC40MS4wLjA) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/Pt8W6OyU87k?si=WE-zF0mWU3hiyqGu) |
| 4:00 | 10:00 | 12:00 | [Sreeram Kannan](https://twitter.com/sreeramkannan) | [Increasing the Observability of Attestor Censorship](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmVkpG7vEQsbgRTS7H41tD6NzQSyvCtt4D37vCtsgFktqA?_gl=1) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/_7PtU1IiOoY?si=Wa8QEqAhCP1_R-be) |
| 4:20 | 10:20 | 12:20 | [Costanza Gallo](https://twitter.com/costgallo) | [Censorship From 0 to 60](https://gateway.ethswarm.org/access/203fd10b3e3f1d6720dd83578caaf44bec0b97e20f2fe9b2ab3b1ca5ebe2e5e9) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/EjT9ogo-l6c?si=HlXVrsVaRy5b4PYA) |
| 4:40 | 10:40 | 12:40 | [Tim Beiko](https://twitter.com/TimBeiko) (Prague Host) | Prague Stage Opening + Chapter 1: Deconstructing the Ethereum L1 CR Problem | |
| 4:45 | 10:45 | 12:45 | [Danno Ferrin](https://twitter.com/shemnon) | [Mind Your Business: State Proofs and Transaction Verification](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmXYtiHczc8qnkG95g32T2vXvu3F539nR9qMU9VbZYc9hh?_gl=1*gd4v57*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDI5ODc1MS4xLjEuMTcwMDMwMjg2OC41Ny4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/_I7pNPgWo34?si=9Yp8wv2-KrzfOXut) |
| 5:05 | 11:05 | 13:05 | [Alon Muroch](https://twitter.com/AmMuroch) | [Improving Censorship Resistance Using DVT](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmY4xqiuU4moR2nn4wsP317kuzwwx3gm1YEaGeW8odEsAV?_gl=1*n397wi*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDI5ODc1MS4xLjEuMTcwMDMwMjkyNS42MC4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/3FK3V3hbWHQ?si=XjBFT2iKStFVpN8l) |
| 5:25 | 11:25 | 13:25 | [Nixo](https://twitter.com/nixorokish) | [Are Solo Stakers Valuable for Censorship Resistance?](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmRyFZdGpURPokSdqpJKRSD5Bdivw5r6nWD9dkXUzaJAGT?_gl=1*1epwv4q*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDI5ODc1MS4xLjEuMTcwMDMwMzQ3NC42MC4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/K95VU053CnQ?si=TQe0U1A9k-l1hJkD) |
| 5:45 | 11:45 | 13:45 | [Sebastian Bürgel](https://twitter.com/SCBuergel) | [The Dark Endgame of CL, EL & Application Layers Without IP-level Privacy](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmXkuPRZnDeWEXGYLrWXxmbg1pAWPuRRABgBN5fRmeG8wC?_gl=1*fn50pr*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMwNTc3Ny4yLjEuMTcwMDMwNTk4OS40NC4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/S-xJKY1ompk?si=Dcj0P-mFcPNorOmy) |
| 6:05 | 12:05 | 14:05 | [Toni Wahrstätter](https://twitter.com/nero_eth) | [Exploring Censorship Across The PBS Stack](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmNYJYHwMjHDVvoRop221RjjPjKsCq4ttRypNjNi3Mokz5?_gl=1*jyt6gg*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMwNTc3Ny4yLjAuMTcwMDMwNTk3My42MC4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/WcJlseuhbX8?si=9Gjiv9Yxq_9TQmFy) |
| 6:25 | 12:25 | 14:25 | [Sajida Zouarhi](https://twitter.com/sajidazouarhi) | [Observability and Censorship in Ethereum](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmV7jQyqLXKVhxekXvStKgFKJncnp9x96qx46mb7LCGzkZ?_gl=1*1l9ztd7*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMwNTc3Ny4yLjEuMTcwMDMwNjk0OS42MC4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/LEsXZsCqOZg?si=PdTXgT6IZCtsf6_M) |
| 6:40 | 12:40 | 14:40 | [Tim Beiko](https://twitter.com/TimBeiko) (Prague Host) | Chapter 2: Exploring Alternatives in Application Infrastructure | |
| 6:45 | 12:45 | 14:45 | [Henri Binsztok](https://twitter.com/henri__OK) | [Alternate Frontends: Why and How](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmSJ6PSFi9jjiXM2nMuDbqdkry3uxDULtaCNJ1uedwNWaC?_gl=1*10j42ek*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMwOTA0Ni4zLjEuMTcwMDMxMDU4OS4zNS4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/mgXpybqbUnA?si=VhKNKdnvex0wR3pv) |
| 7:05 | 13:05 | 15:05 | [Yoav Weiss](https://twitter.com/yoavw) | [Account abstraction is easy… unless you care about censorship resistance](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmNnHbRvK3bXjpN2S9i4UynqNyD4LvMXDunSMf4QrLWjWR?_gl=1*x047u0*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMwOTA0Ni4zLjEuMTcwMDMxMDc2Mi42MC4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/TbPttlHGsbU?si=J5nSc0FLpic10fX1) |
| 7:25 | 13:25 | 15:25 | [Garrett MacDonald](https://twitter.com/bitcoingarrett) | [Alternate Data Transport Layers](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmRbrTtsNkbe5FXXEWF6tr2SBib1ydb2anhv8qrdepoDDs?_gl=1*2k3n3j*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMwOTA0Ni4zLjEuMTcwMDMxMDgyMS4xLjAuMA..) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/t2cRSO5jLTg?si=nCfliLKG044eWhrv) |
| 7:45 | 13:45 | 15:45 | [Tina Zhen](https://twitter.com/tzhen) (Istanbul Host) | Chapter 3: Surveying the Approaches from L2 Perspectives | |
| 7:50 | 13:50 | 15:50 | [Nashqueue](https://twitter.com/NashQueue) | [Exploring Attacks in the Modular Rollup World](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/Qmcaovmh8prj2puoDAA8DavM4yDvjLsqa8sMtYHfsLRi8T?_gl=1*1ako2pq*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMxMzgyMS40LjEuMTcwMDMxMzg0MC40MS4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/fh6T9PQf5p4?si=y46VHVkZ2EJ5icLi) |
| 8:10 | 14:10 | 16:10 | [Santiago Palladino](https://twitter.com/smpalladino) | [Deep Dive into Private State and Execution of Smart Contract](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmP5bVvNGiV6PbrmSBErGLHzauBMmL1FEngTh6GkxFo3eD?_gl=1*13928nz*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMxMzgyMS40LjEuMTcwMDMxMzkxMy42MC4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/FBAeTa7SWE0?si=opdQWs2OtUSP1WiC) |
| 8:30 | 14:30 | 16:30 | [Omar Espejel](https://twitter.com/espejelomar) | [Escape Hatches: Urgent Anti-Censorship Solution for Specific Transactions](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmR813ztMsqbaZ1Cpvb5PaeYRCCqptYPrCpD3BQYsRzbCy?_gl=1*1yzket*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMxNjk5NC41LjEuMTcwMDMxNzM4NS45LjAuMA..) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/lPtLouCJjO4?si=xhjxtz4zey4hTD1U) |
| 8:50 | 14:50 | 16:50 | [Ed Felten](https://twitter.com/EdFelten) | [Improving Deadline Protocols via Censorship Detection](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmUS5ASgZ2LpayJed3hgibUJCa8Vq264XJNVVsHyeHo3GE?_gl=1*jhew7f*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMxNjk5NC41LjEuMTcwMDMxNzQ3OC41OC4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/DbWvfHGh_Ak?si=Q48M6PFLHItB_9Z3) |
| 9:10 | 15:10 | 17:10 | [Tina Zhen](https://twitter.com/tzhen) (Istanbul Host) | Chapter 4: Weaving Theories into Practice | |
| 9:15 | 15:15 | 17:15 | [Mallesh Pai](https://twitter.com/malleshpai) | [An Economic Definition for Censorship Resistance](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/QmUGeg5VN4F6UxWC1vDvw2U24aqv3kF4fmZgm465gT3KMM?_gl=1*6ugc4v*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMxNjk5NC41LjEuMTcwMDMxNzY3OS42MC4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/mX0VGeqtcLQ?si=TpJSA_QE_AZaM_aV) |
| 9:35 | 15:35 | 17:35 | [Justin Drake](https://twitter.com/drakefjustin) | [Weak Censorship Resistance](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/Qmf8aie1ye9K1EW4idfw2TwRrQaaszDxv5jHGQXHpeSuLA?_gl=1*1e2hw4q*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMxNjk5NC41LjEuMTcwMDMxODYyMi41NS4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/sTfATirYqGA?si=C0xibdZYQJpwUZZf) |
| 9:55 | 15:55 | 17:55 | [Venkatesh Rao](https://twitter.com/vgr) | [Beyond Exit and Voice](https://tan-junior-cephalopod-107.mypinata.cloud/ipfs/Qmdr3ra9GfxQt1yrHt8Wsn6UatCHKzWha8GCmJ7jdMVj3n?_gl=1*11lhgxn*_ga*ODM3NDkwMDUuMTcwMDI5ODc1MA..*_ga_5RMPXG14TE*MTcwMDMxNjk5NC41LjEuMTcwMDMxODYxNy42MC4wLjA.) | [Recording](https://youtu.be/Vb5Ay4z6dRs?si=6F0mDp-qrukBj_S7) |
| 10:15 | 16:15 | 18:15 | [Tim Beiko](https://twitter.com/TimBeiko) (Prague Host) | Epilogue | |
### Breakouts
In parallel with the afternoon talks, participants in Istanbul had the ability to join workshops in two breakout rooms right outside the main stage. Anyone could propose a workshop to be hosted, in total 5 sessions were hosted:
* [Harith Kamarul](https://twitter.com/harithk17): **What if we DO want to censor?**
This session explored how chains can implement censoring mechanisms in a way that respects community values. The group universally agreed that L1s should not implement such measures, but that it can make sense for higher-layer chains in order to restrict use cases and expressivity. For users who disagree with the censorship policies, opt-out mechanisms should be available such as forking or implementing a ragequit mechanism.
* [Mike Neuder](https://twitter.com/mikeneuder): **PBS: [P]retty [B]ad [S]ituation or [P]romising [B]ut [S]low**
The discussions of this session focused on proposed mechanisms to enhance the PBS implementation on Ethereum. The group discussed in-protocol vs out-of-protocol designs, inclusion lists, as well as some of the mechanics of transactions and nonces.
* [Yisi Liu](https://twitter.com/TheYisiLiu): **Confession from the largest node operator of Mastodon: Paradox of decentralized social network.**
The group discussed complex issues within decentralized social networks through three lenses:
* The debate of censorship versus content moderation in major Mastodon instances.
* Building Matters.town – a decentralized social application that hosts many dissident writers in hostile, cencorship-infused, digital and political environments
* Sharing insights as a podcast creator in a censor-heavy environment using projects like Loud Murmurs and CyberPink podcasts as case studies.
More information on the session can be found in the [summary](https://hackmd.io/@yisiliu/HyeaAzLVa) by [Yisi Liu](https://twitter.com/TheYisiLiu).
* [Danger](https://twitter.com/safetyth1rd): **Addressing State Level Censorship attacks: Practical solutions and ideas for projects and protocols.**
This session discussed ways to address censorship attacks at the social level including; spreading teams across different legal jurisdictions, diversifying funding sources and ways to foster international and decentralized communities. For the long term, the session emphasized lobbying for financial privacy and freedom, alongside educating the public about the principles and ethos of crypto.
* [Trenton Gaddis](https://twitter.com/DDGaddis): **The importance of encryption on the based layer to enable censorship resistance**
---
*Thank you to all the speakers and participants who attended in Istanbul, Prague, or remotely.*
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