User:Vanquish Labs/Blind Signaling and Response

Blind Signaling and Response

Blind Signaling and Response refers to a social signaling system constructed to anonymize all parties to each other, including the parties that exchange information of value, especially but not limited to the gathering, processing and conveying of online user behavior and preferences for the purpose of matching marketing messages directed back to those users.

It is a science based on the Blind Handshake methodology of David Chaum [reference?], and extends the concept to support a back-channel for the return of information between two parties unknown to each other. As of February 2013, David Chaum has not expressed an opinion on the viability of Blind Signaling and Response.

Blind Signaling and Response is in the theoretical stage. As of 2013, several cryptographers are working on an implementation schema [ref?], but a practical prototype has yet to be demonstrated.

What is Blind Signaling and Response?

It is possible to construct a network service (for example, a search engine or an email service) that collects personal information and sells targeted access to bidders–without storing or transmitting any data that aids in identifying the source or target. Additionally, the information that facilitates replying to a “signal” can be structured in a way that is meaningless to outsiders and even to the service and database operator.

The ramifications are significant. Internet service providers (Verizon), cloud services (Google), web infrastructure services (Akamai) could all become "white hats", without potential to compromise individual privacy and without any way to turn over meaningful data to interlopers, governments or those who claim to own media rights.