In a time where digital advancements intersect with democratic processes, Rarimo has unveiled its latest innovation – the “Freedom Tool” – with the goal of transforming the landscape of electoral systems.
Rarimo has introduced a digital identity protocol aimed at revolutionizing voting and personal privacy. This platform, based on zero-knowledge technology, allows for the creation of secure and tamper-proof voting systems where individuals can freely express their opinions without fear of privacy breaches or authoritative consequences.
Unlike traditional voting methods, the Freedom Tool utilizes blockchain technology and identity management to ensure that each vote is both anonymous and verifiable.
Lasha Antadze, co-founder of Rarimo, discussed with crypto.news the origins of the Freedom Tool, its role in combating election fraud, and the significance of upholding democracy and personal freedom.
The Freedom Tool appears to be a groundbreaking tool for anonymous elections and polls. How did the concept come about, and what inspired the Rarimo community to develop this solution?
Antadze: Identity is crucial in online interactions, but there was a missing identity layer in web3, which we aimed to provide. We also wanted to embed privacy into this layer, as identity cannot function without it. Zero-knowledge proofs helped us overcome the identity limitations of blockchain, such as the visibility of everything on-chain to everyone. Voting is just one example of where proving identity while maintaining privacy is essential.
With over 64 elections worldwide in 2024, how does Freedom Tool address issues like electoral fraud, voter intimidation, and ballot control in different countries?
The Freedom Tool enables polling and voting that is both surveillance-free and citizen-run. Communities can define their own electoral terms, including the candidates on the ballot and who can vote. In regions where opposition is suppressed and minority groups are systematically excluded from voting, this capability can shift power back to the people. It is not just an enhancement of existing systems but a parallel solution designed to uphold the basic human right to free speech.
The first implementation of the Freedom Tool will be in an Eastern European regime. Can you explain the challenges of implementing the tool in such regions and the potential impact on opposition and minority groups?
In totalitarian environments, the Freedom Tool provides a lifeline for the opposition to survive. In the Eastern European country where the tool is launching, it will offer a safe space for dissent. This not only gives dissidents a voice but also allows them to organize and unite. The polling and voting capabilities can be used for various purposes, from electing an opposition leader to defining key issues. This tool will reassure dissidents that they are not alone and empower them to continue their fight.
In what ways does the Freedom Tool align with Satoshi Nakamoto’s original vision of empowering individuals and decentralizing power beyond finance to encompass personal identity and liberty?
The Freedom Tool is a continuation of Satoshi’s goal to empower people. While blockchain initially focused on separating money and state, the Freedom Tool extends this principle to identity, which is crucial for individual freedom in today’s world.
Can you elaborate on the key features of the Freedom Tool and how it utilizes blockchain technology and zero-knowledge identity management for secure and anonymous voting?
With the Freedom Tool, citizens can prove their eligibility by scanning their biometric passports with their phones. The data on the passport’s biometric chip is verified, and an anonymous voting pass is issued upon confirming authenticity. Zero-knowledge cryptography ensures that the voting pass and passport data are not linked, safeguarding the citizen’s privacy. Furthermore, blockchain technology protects votes from manipulation by publishing them directly on the blockchain, making them tamper-proof and publicly auditable.
The election ballots operate as smart contracts on the blockchain, with pre-defined criteria on who can vote and on what topics. Ballots can be submitted by anyone on the network but require a support threshold to become active. A more detailed technical explanation can be found in our white paper.
The integration of the Freedom Tool in an Eastern European regime implies direct involvement in political processes. How does the Rarimo community navigate potential challenges or opposition from governments when implementing such tools?
The ‘freedom tool’ is open-source technology that can be used and modified worldwide for various purposes. There is no mechanism for contributors or others in the ecosystem to control its evolution. The implementation of this tool is driven by those who discover it and align with its original vision. The developers do not pursue any political agenda through their contributions but focus on individual empowerment and freedom of speech.
RariMe, the MetaMask Snap introduced by Rarimo, focuses on digital identity management. How does this integration align with Rarimo’s broader vision of a decentralized and privacy-focused internet?
Rarimo’s vision is to put users in control of their digital identities. The Freedom Tool is just one of the identity solutions developed by Rarimo that prioritize privacy and identity ownership. The MetaMask Snap integrates self-sovereign identity into the web3 ecosystem, allowing users to store their credentials and control their usage, generating zero-knowledge proofs on demand. This contrasts with the current centralized identity model of web2.
Considering the rapidly evolving landscape of blockchain technology and digital identity, what future developments or enhancements does Rarimo have planned to further revolutionize the space?
The core innovation of the Freedom Tool was zero-knowledge proofs for biometric passports, adding a privacy layer to this universal form of identity. There are numerous use cases for this technology beyond voting, such as verifying age or citizenship without compromising personal information. Rarimo plans to explore these use cases further.
Overall, Rarimo aims to provide universal access and verification of digital identities. The protocol facilitates third-party apps to connect and verify information from various issuers. The goal is to enhance interoperability in the decentralized identity space, allowing users to seamlessly transfer their identities across web3. The Rarimo ecosystem is built on the principles of self-sovereignty and self-managed identities, utilizing blockchain, Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), zero-knowledge technology, and decentralized identity standards to empower users online. The collaborative and horizontal development approach of Rarimo promises innovative applications that go beyond DeFi.