As a seasoned crypto investor and privacy advocate with a keen eye for the potential dangers lurking beneath the surface of technology, Edward Snowden’s insights at Near’s Redacted conference resonated deeply with me. His emphasis on decentralization as a safeguard against surveillance and AI is not just a call to arms but a clarion call that should resound in every crypto investor’s heart.
At the Near’s Redacted conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, the renowned privacy activist and ex-National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, Edward Snowden, discussed the concept of decentralization during his presentation.
Speaking on topics like cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, Snowden also addressed the impact of venture capital (VC) on blockchain projects, using Solana as an example.
He described Solana as “born in prison” due to its heavy VC funding, suggesting that heavy financial backing can impede a blockchain network’s ability to operate independently.
Although Snowden recognized Solana’s swift expansion, he voiced worries about excess investor control over the platform, while also suggesting that there is potential for Solana to develop significantly in the future.
Decentralization as a safeguard against surveillance and AI
During his speech, Snowden repeatedly stressed the necessity of decentralization as a means to combat the advanced surveillance abilities facilitated by Artificial Intelligence.
He warned of AI-driven surveillance allowing governments and corporations to process large volumes of personal data in real time, potentially paving the way for live data analysis on a massive scale:
“They want to train it on everything, and they want to be able to say, you know, who looks anomalous […] Look at everybody, look at the whole human body, and pick out anybody who is weird.”
VC funding influence
Snowden’s criticism of Solana’s early venture capital investment centered around the potential for such financing to weaken the decentralization and self-rule of blockchain systems.
He cited concerns echoed previously during a vote by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) against a proposal to deploy Uniswap v3 on the BNB Chain.
On February 5th, as a crypto investor holding 15 million UNI tokens, I exercised my right to vote in favor of the proposed motion. This outweighed the initial majority of “yes” votes (20 million), strengthening our position to a staggering 80.28%. Despite the opposition’s efforts, with 4.9 million “no” votes representing 19.72% of the total, we stood firm in our decision.
In this case, Snowden pointed out how powerful dominant players in a centralized system can be when it comes to influencing or controlling decentralized initiatives.
Open source FTW
Snowden, too, championed open-source tools as a vital means for combating the concentration of power by promoting their capacity to amplify the influence of the individual.
As a researcher delving into the realm of blockchain technology, I can’t help but be inspired by the empowerment that open-source models bring. They offer a unique opportunity for individuals like me to grasp and utilize these groundbreaking technologies more effectively.
“The bottom line is, you guys can do this yourself […] I’m telling you guys you don’t understand, if you’re not using it, you need to use this […] the sky’s the limit.”
Snowden views open-source AI as a chance for people to preserve their independence within a centralized environment, urging his audience during the talk and AI users worldwide to embrace these tools.
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2024-11-10 17:15