Data and security breaches are becoming increasingly common, highlighting the vulnerabilities of existing messaging and communications platforms. Devising computational tools and systems that better protect sensitive data against malicious attacks is therefore of utmost importance.

Researchers from several institutes worldwide recently developed Quarks, a new, decentralized messaging network based on blockchain technology. Their proposed system could overcome the limitations of most commonly used messaging platforms, allowing users to retain control over their personal data and other information they share online.

  • FlowVoidEnglish
    2·
    10 months ago

    I just gave you one example of a use case. It’s hardly unique. There are plenty of time-sensitive messages sent in business settings, and plenty of people who don’t necessarily want to acknowledge receiving them.

    More examples, off the top of my head:

    • Manager tells worker they need to cover an emergency on the weekend, worker claims they never received the message.

    • Business wants to cancel a work order, contractor shows up and says they weren’t properly notified of the cancellation.

    • Supervisor sends disciplinary note to employee before dismissal, employee says it was never sent and then claims wrongful termination.

    And of course, this has nothing to do with email. So if you set up a “spam filter” that deletes your boss’s messages, that’s on you. They know they sent you the message, even if you delete it or otherwise pretend they didn’t.

    This is about an independent audit trail, not “keeping logs”. Your personal email server doesn’t count, because you can alter the log to show whatever you want. Nobody is going to take your word for it.

    Finally, it’s pretty clear you have no idea how this system is supposed to work, because you keep claiming that documents are “accessible by any third party”. You do understand that not every blockchain system is public, right?

    • regalia@literature.cafe
      3·
      10 months ago

      You didn’t even know what a pgp key was before this convo or read receipts, you have no idea what you’re talking about. This is not a real problem and is already solved with outbox emails.

      Your personal email server doesn’t count, because you can alter the log to show whatever you want. Nobody is going to take your word for it.

      Falsifying evidence is a crime.

      Manager tells worker they need to cover an emergency on the weekend, worker claims they never received the message.

      Lol then the manager will say “why did you not respond”, it’s on the worker. They’re not going to pull up a fucking blockchain, they’re going to pull out their phone and say “see, I sent you this”.

      Business wants to cancel a work order, contractor shows up and says they weren’t properly notified of the cancellation.

      That’s the contractors fault. Blockchain is irrelevant. If they didn’t check their email, they’re sure as hell not going to check a dumb ass blockchain.

      They know they sent you the message, even if you delete it or otherwise pretend they didn’t.

      Crazy, I wonder how they know that? Maybe because they know they pressed the “send” button, and it’s the other party’s responsibility to accept.

      Again, none of these situations need a dumb fucking blockchain.

      You do understand that not every blockchain system is public, right?

      https://www.blockchain.com/explorer

      • FlowVoidEnglish
        2·
        10 months ago

        You didn’t even know what a pgp key was before this convo or read receipts

        Lol what? I knew what they were, I just thought it was stupid to bring them up because they solve nothing.

        Falsifying evidence is a crime.

        Oh, then there is no need to worry about it, I guess.

        “why did you not respond”,

        “Respond to what??”

        they’re going to pull out their phone and say “see, I sent you this”.

        Then the worker pulls out their phone and says, “see, it’s not on my phone”

        That’s the contractors fault. Blockchain is irrelevant. If they didn’t check their email, they’re sure as hell not going to check a dumb ass blockchain.

        Unless, of course, the sender/manager actually didn’t properly notify the contractor/employee, and now they are lying to cover their ass.

        Like many disputes, it amounts to he-said-she-said. When it goes to court, the jury will flip a coin. There is a better way.