Blockchain is an encrypted database composed of interpersonal agreements, blockchain servers are platforms for “bookkeeping”, which are at the same time resistant to corruptions, and they are transparent and unnoticed. By tackling the issues of financial, political and institutional corruption, blockchain has the potential to create major social changes and to protect the human right of every individual. Below are some examples of the capabilities of blockchain at present.
1. Monitoring the migrant crisis: This year, the Food Programme of the United Nations has sent over 10,000 vouchers based on cryptocurrencies, to the Syrian refugees. According to CoinDesc, led by co-founder Ethereum Gavin Woods, the company for high data centres blockchain businesses of Datarela’s Parity Technologies has used this platform and helped thousands of refugees to use cryptocurrencies to buy food.
The ability to circumvent bureaucratic and international insecurity has not only given refugees the possibility of direct access to donations, it is also the first step in launching a process aimed at resolving the international migrant crisis.
2. Creating financial opportunities: The same blockchain platform that is used to provide financial vouchers to refugees, works to reduce the worldwide poverty level. Blockchain can be used as an institution similar to a bank, for people who do not have an account. As long as you have access to a smartphone, there is a way to easily access your money. Blockchain is a decentralised system, which implies that you are not charged for money transfer transactions, like in classic financial institutions.
This technology comes in handy with two important variable items in world poverty: firstly, it makes it cheaper to send money to refugees who need money or to send money to their families, and secondly, it facilitates business with countries where connectivity is a major problem.
3. Preventing fraud during voting: Blockchain technology has the ability to provide an electronic counting system that is resistant to hackers. This system can protect election registration choices, and ensure the identification of voters, as well as their votes.
4. Improving government efficiency: Blockchain has the ability to speed up government processes, and to influence functions such as public expenditure, healthcare and education. Government processes can be slow, difficult to understand, and subject to corruption. Blockchain as a solution can help governments become more effective and safer.
5. Application in education: In the US, MIT is already making waves with blockchain technology. Last year, within the pilot programme, over 100 graduates could obtain diplomas in digital format through an application with a traditional paper format. Although it will always be a place for tradition, certificates issued through an application called Blockchain Wallet allow graduates to safely share a veritable and unauthorised digital version of their diplomas with prospective employers and other institutions.
6. Solutions for law enforcement: Blockchain cryptocurrency technology is an incredible solution to many of the challenges that the police community as a whole faces. It is a solution that can restore trust in the police through technology, monitor criminals across borders and reduce the ability to use false identities, provide a reliable chain of evidence, help combat terrorism, protect private data and enable sharing intelligence (secure information). A Blockchain shared through law enforcement agencies can make existing systems more efficient, more transparent and easy to control for information carriers.
7. System for libraries: Because blockchain function as an information book that does not require a centralised organisation, they could be used to build a truly distributed metadata system for libraries and related organisations. Such a system would be available to any organisation that wants it at no extra cost. The system would cleanly scale, while maintaining the quality of data through a selective read/write choice based on the hash sign.
8. Photography and rights: Kodak is working to help photographers fight theft of images using blockchain and cryptocurrencies. KodakOne uses the idea of blockchain — protecting data over a large network of computers and applies the concept of managing photo rights.
Because of blockchain structure, data is stored on a large network of computers that helps create a public book, adds a layer of protection and prevents data loss.
For many in the technology industry, “blockchain” and “cryptocurrencies” are hot buzzwords, but for photographers who have been trying long to confirm their work and how they are used, these buzzwords are the key for solving what feels like an unsolvable problem before, said CEO of Kodak Blockchain.
We are currently in the phase of exploring its capabilities, far from any proven and established solutions. Nevertheless, it represents a promising and important solution aimed at solving some of the most sensitive problems of today: corruption, financial inequality and unequal access to information.
By setting an international precedent and probably also a standard for transparency, blockchain technology reduces economic disparities and ensures the survival of human rights.
Stefano Virgilli
stefano@virgilli.com
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