## Namada Private Library series

### Aug 8, 2023
_Hosted by [Gavin](https://twitter.com/Ether_Gavin) & [Park](https://twitter.com/motherpredicate) in [Namada Discord](https://discord.com/channels/833618405537218590/1135749722146078791)_

Increasing numbers of people are concerned with their digital privacy, and [companies like Meta and Twitter](https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/30/tech/twitter-dms-encrypted-elon-musk/index.html) are adopting end-to-end encryption. In a data-driven world, securing data is ever-more important.

And we shouldn't need to justify our right to privacy--the onus is on others to justify the failure to secure it. But privacy can be hard to talk about generally because it tends to be so personal: what I may deem private may not be for you, and vice versa. Each week (typically Tuesday at 16:00 UTC), we chat together about an important privacy topic.

**This week, let's discuss what can only grow in a privacy-preserving digital environment.**

- [How Change Happens](https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/cass-sunstein-how-change-happens/) - 80,000 Hours episode (1hr 43mins)
- check out the [highlights](https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/cass-sunstein-how-change-happens/#highlights)
- check out the [lecture transcript](https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/cass-sunstein-how-change-happens/#lecture), it's reasonably short
- [Unlocking Privacy on Ethereum with Paul Brody]((https://www.youtube.com/live/9FZq-9Oe5Hc?feature=share&t=708)) - Bankless episode (1h 11min)
- a good chunk of the key info can be found at ~11:45
- In blockchain tech, the only thing that is private are your keys
- - Why privacy with blockchain tech? [Knowable's Jul 2023 privacy thesis](https://vknowable.github.io/knowable-blog/thesis-privacy-is-table-stakes-for-adoption/)

#### Objectives
Our goal for this session is engagement over lecturing. We want to host a discussion that optimizes for valuable, meaningful engagement from a diverse set of perspectives/ideas with minimal overhead. Ideally the people who join will get a high amount of value for their time, will find points of connection, and will be inspired to host a future session and/or take something to the next level.

We won't go too deep, let's identify big ideas for more dedicated discussions (Discord chats, DMs, future sessions). If there’s a topic/subject that you think is worth exploring together, it’s easier than you think to host! [Check out the playbook that we're developing here.](https://hackmd.io/@gaving/BJ5_gORin)

- Audio recording: not recorded! need a note-taker
- Chat log

---
## What nice things can't we have without privacy?
Last week we asked if privacy has failed, and this week I'm curious to explore what fails without privacy.

Privacy often seems to be framed as a fight against surveillance. Privacy's important for safety and justice, but fights aren't attractive to most, and they make growth difficult. What's beyond? Imagine if people were naturally drawn to better innovations, services and experiences that could only be had with privacy-enhancing tech.

If you're excited about having a personal AI agent, you'll want that agent totally under your control (not spying on and manipulating you). Enterprise-scale organizations would apparently love to use Ethereum for their business logic, and cannot, because their data must stay secure.

We each have different privacy needs, but whether it's an individual or a global-scale organization, **privacy seems to be foundational to relationships and coordination in human society.** More than ever we live in a digital age, and we're also entering the AI era. What exciting things can be built on this digital foundation?

## What's only possible with privacy?
I think of privacy as access control over social boundaries. I've been thinking about some day-to-day things that are only possible with privacy, and how they would otherwise fail:

- personal conversations (ie. what details you share in conversations)
- parenting (ie. what you share with your child)
- surprises
- eg. parties, gifts, events, acts of kindness, announcing an accomplishment to your loved ones
- business deals
- eg. real estate, employment agreements, acquisitions
- games
- eg. cards, board games, videogames, escape rooms
- marketing
- eg. movie releases, marketing campaign announcements, partnership announcements
- romantic stuff eg. flirting, dating, getaways
- strategy eg. legal stuff, political campaigns, sports
- the scientific process, eg. blinding

There's a lot of stuff that just won't work without social boundaries.

## What's only possible with the Internet?

The Internet has been a social revolution. We can communicate globally, both instantaneously and asynchronously, to have passing interactions or to form various kinds of relationships, like niche communities.

**What social things are only possible with the Internet?**

- video calls
- remote teams
- crowdsourcing
- online dating
- livestreaming & social media
- digital nomads
- virtual conferences
- massive multiplayer online games
- niche communities (eg. subreddits, forums)
- anonymous support groups

We typically depend on intermediaries to maintain the boundaries of our social interactions on the Internet.

**How are social boundaries on the Internet maintained? Are there examples where depending on intermediaries has resulted in a problem?**

## Open discussion

**Could our internet experiences and services be better with stronger privacy assurances?**

I like to think that we could openly share more about ourselves if we had total control over our social boundaries.

When my brother introduced me to Reddit, I asked for his user handle and he hesitated. "People are free to ask difficult questions and talk openly about their experiences because their user handle isn't tied to their personal identity."

When I want authentic reviews for a product or service, I often turn to Reddit because I find that there’s more authenticity from pseudonymous people than from dedicated reviews.

Imagine being able to write openly about difficult subject matter without having concerns about how it may impact your life. Imagine being able to learn about one another in ways we never thought were possible. Is these things that people may want? Can we make services, apps, or gadgets that could enable such experiences?

Various kinds of research from more authentic data could increase our understanding of ourselves in ways that could make life better for everyone with more to look forward to.

**Assuming privacy enables us to confidently share this sensitive data freely--how can we ensure that the data set isn't poisoned, especially in the era of AI?**

**Can blockchain technology help?**