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The Unchained Web Daily #138

Alexandros Dolgov CBA? (Study/Bitcoin)

发布日期: 2023年9月21日

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Reclaim (some) Privacy Webinar Series: Intro to SearXNG & other privacy engines

In April, I am planning my first webinar in a series focused on privacy. The specific webinar will be focused on why Google may not be the best search engine to use and the SearXNG meta search engine and how it can be used to enhance privacy when using a search engine to research or find something to one's interest.

If you are interested in the topic, feel free to click "attend" on the link to the event below: https://www.dhirubhai.net/events/7167975601373458433/about/

Rumble Rejects UK Government’s Pressure to Demonetize Russell Brand Amidst Allegations

In a growing debate about cancel culture, Rumble has taken a stand against the UK government's push to penalize comedian Russell Brand, who has been accused of sexual assault. Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski responded to an inquiry by the UK's "Culture, Media and Sport Committee" regarding Brand's monetization on the platform, emphasizing the company's commitment to a free internet. Pavlovski pointed out the importance of a free internet, "where no one arbitrarily dictates which ideas can or cannot be heard." He underscored the importance of not penalizing creators for allegations unrelated to the platform. Rumble's decision to keep Brand's content on the platform has drawn attention to broader discussions on cancel culture, the role of tech platforms, and the overreach in governments in regulating online content. Click here for more.

Pro-Censorship Group Being Investigated By US Congress Has Ties To UK Politicians

The intricate connections between the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a self-proclaimed "disinformation" monitoring organization, and the British government have stirred controversy among free speech advocates. In the United States, Congress accuses CCDH of playing a role in silencing conservative voices online, with the government using its reports to advocate for online censorship. The UK branch of CCDH has notable political figures on its board, drawing scrutiny for its influence on government policies. Critics argue that while CCDH claims to combat hatred and promote safe digital communities, it amounts to a form of censorship and a threat to free speech. The organization's political affiliations, including ties to the Biden administration and Facebook, are also concerning. These revelations underscore the need for vigilance and institutional protections for citizens' rights. Click here for more.

The UK Passes Sweeping New Surveillance and Censorship Measures in The Online Safety Bill

The UK has passed the controversial Online Safety Bill, which is seen as one of the most far-reaching attacks on privacy and free speech in a Western democracy. While the bill aims to protect internet users, especially youth, from harmful online content, it goes beyond removing illegal material. It requires social media giants to act as custodians, monitoring and preventing ill-intent messages and explicit material. Critics argue that this bill, despite its safety intentions, carries an overt undertone of censorship, potentially sacrificing freedom of speech and privacy. Ofcom will enforce the law with stringent punishments for non-compliance. The bill also introduces new criminal offenses and empowers the government to demand the use of government-approved software to scan user content, raising concerns about privacy, security, and potential abuse of power. End-to-end encrypted service providers have even threatened to withdraw from the UK due to the perceived invasiveness of the bill. Click here for more.

US Financial Services Committee Blocks Federal Reserve’s CBDC Ambitions

The United States Financial Services Committee has passed the first anti-CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) bill, championed by Majority Whip Tom Emmer, which opposes the creation of a CBDC due to concerns over government surveillance. Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, CBDCs are digital sovereign currencies controlled by governments, potentially allowing for monitoring and control of transactions. Emmer argued that a CBDC could compromise Americans' financial privacy rights and become a surveillance tool. The bill gained support from 60 members of Congress and various stakeholder groups, aiming to block the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC. While its fate in the House is uncertain, its prospects in the Senate, where Democrats have a majority, may face challenges. Click here for more.

Meta Rejects Claims of LLaMA Using Authors’ Copyrighted Work

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, is facing a lawsuit from authors Richard Kadrey, Sarah Silverman, and Christopher Golden. They allege that Meta used their books to train its artificial intelligence tool, LLaMA, without their consent, benefiting financially from this training. Meta argues that copyright law does not cover facts or the structure of information in books and that the content in question constitutes a very small fraction of the training dataset. They compare this use to Google's practice of using books for its search tool, which was deemed fair use in a previous court case. The lawsuit highlights ongoing ethical concerns surrounding AI and data usage, as well as the need for users to carefully examine agreements with AI software providers to prevent copyright infringement claims. Meanwhile, some investors predict that AI will significantly disrupt various industries in the coming years, leading to advancements in productivity, education, and healthcare. Click here for more.

Kraken Exchange Partner Sued by Australian Securities Commission for Non-Compliance

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has filed a lawsuit against Bit Trade Pty Ltd, a crypto exchange that provides services for Kraken in Australia. ASIC alleges that Bit Trade failed to comply with design and distribution obligations for its margin trading product, which allows customers to receive credit to buy and sell certain crypto assets on Kraken. The regulator claims that at least 1,160 customers incurred a total loss of about $8.35 million since the product's launch in October 2021. ASIC is seeking declarations, penalties, and injunctions against Bit Trade. In related news, Hong Kong-based crypto exchange JPEX has applied for deregistration in Australia after facing regulatory issues in Hong Kong, and FTX Australia had its license canceled by ASIC in July. The crypto industry in Australia is still waiting for clear regulations to govern its operations. Click here for more.

Hong Kong blocks access to JPEX's website and app amid probes

Hong Kong police have detained at least 11 individuals in connection with an alleged fraud case, resulting in raids at numerous locations in the city and asset seizures. Additionally, local authorities have requested telecom providers to block online access to the troubled cryptocurrency exchange JPEX, which claims that the Securities and Futures Commission unreasonably blocked its mobile application and official website. Click here for more.

You can build your own Trezor, but here’s the price — DIY wallet engineer

Florin Cocos, an electronics design manager, built a do-it-yourself (DIY) cryptocurrency wallet similar to Trezor using the wallet's open-source code in 2018. Cocos purchased electronic components from distributors like Farnell, a microcontroller, and a printed circuit board (PCB) from a Chinese production house, extracting the Gerber file from Trezor's GitHub. He spent about 10 hours setting up the DIY Trezor, emphasizing that it's nearly impossible for an average user without electronics knowledge. While the process could be simplified, it would increase security risks related to supply chain vulnerabilities. Cocos advises against building a hardware wallet without electronics expertise due to the potential for significant security risks. Click here for more.

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Mt. Gox Bitcoin repayment: The day that never comes

The infamous Mt. Gox cryptocurrency exchange, which suffered a major security breach in 2014, resulting in the loss of 850,000 Bitcoin, has continually postponed its plans to reimburse affected users. The exchange filed for bankruptcy protection in 2014 and faced lawsuits from investors. Over the years, there have been multiple delays in the repayment process. In 2021, a rehabilitation plan was approved, raising hopes for investors. However, the deadlines for reimbursement have been extended several times, with the latest extension pushing the deadline to October 2024. The saga of Mt. Gox's reimbursement continues into its 11th year, leaving investors in limbo. (Note: The Bitcoin price mentioned in the text fluctuates as it covers events over several years). Click here for more.

NFTs are ‘totally worthless’ says mainstream media, community responds

Rolling Stone, a mainstream media outlet, has published an article declaring that nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are largely worthless, citing a study by DappGambl that found up to 95% of NFTs, owned by over 23 million investors, have no value. The response to this declaration has been mixed within the crypto community, with some agreeing with the assessment while others point out previous Rolling Stone articles that promoted NFTs. Despite the current sentiment, some believe that certain NFTs may make a comeback in the future. This news comes as Ethereum gas usage for NFTs has decreased, indicating a shift in NFT activity towards holding assets rather than actively trading them. Click here for more.

Busan is developing an Ethereum-compatible mainnet to become a ‘blockchain city’

South Korea's second-largest city, Busan, is actively developing a public blockchain network compatible with major blockchain platforms like Ethereum and Cosmos. The goal is to create a single platform at the city level that integrates various blockchain-based services from different mainnets, ultimately transforming Busan into a blockchain city. Busan has allocated a budget of 100 billion Korean won (approximately $75 million) for this open blockchain development initiative. The project aims to provide a seamless and standardized experience for businesses and services that use blockchain technology within the city. Additionally, Busan is working on establishing a Blockchain Trust Framework technology standard to enhance the quality of private and public services and encourage interoperability among services. The city also plans to launch the Busan digital asset exchange in the first half of 2024, allowing the trading of digital assets and tokenized securities, including precious metals and raw materials. Click here for more.

UK politicians don metaverse avatars as they share Web3 roadmap

A group of British politicians made use of the metaverse to address global leaders in a gathering of representatives from 51 nations on September 20, presenting their vision for the United Kingdom's blockchain and Web3 industries. Natalie Elphicke, a member of parliament and chair of the new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Blockchain Technologies, appeared in the metaverse as her unique avatar to emphasize the significance of Web3 technology, which she described as a paradigm shift reimagining the internet's fabric. Elphicke highlighted the potential for the UK to become a blockchain-enabled "smart country" but acknowledged the need to catch up with competitors in terms of blockchain-related job opportunities. She called for national blockchain roadmaps, collaboration between countries, and the continued development of the National Blockchain Roadmap, published in 2021, which aims to create a blockchain-based "digital nation" with applications in various sectors, including climate mitigation, digital identity, and more. Elphicke also addressed DeFi, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability, and discussed the growing trend of real-world asset tokenization. Click here for more.

Bitcoin energy pivot achieves what ‘few industries can claim’ — Bloomberg analyst

According to Bloomberg crypto market analyst Jamie Coutts, the Bitcoin mining industry has managed to expand without seeing a significant increase in its carbon footprint, a feat that "few industries can claim." Coutts cited data showing that the use of sustainable energy in Bitcoin mining has increased since 2021 and now constitutes over 50% of the energy mix. This has led to a slowdown in emissions growth relative to the network's expansion. Coutts argued that this could attract institutional and sovereign investment capital, as the mining industry's incentive to acquire the cheapest energy sources drives hash rate growth while simultaneously reducing emissions. He suggested that if the network scales to hundreds of millions of users, its impact on global carbon emissions will be minimal, and Bitcoin technology could play a role in the transition away from fossil fuels. The percentage of sustainable energy used in Bitcoin mining remains a subject of debate, with Cambridge University's model suggesting 37.6%, while some experts argue it is above 50% when off-grid mining and methane mitigation are considered. Click here for more.

Mt. Gox trustee changes repayment deadline to October 2024

Mt. Gox trustee Nobuaki Kobayashi has officially extended the deadline for repaying the exchange's creditors from October 31, 2023, to October 31, 2024. In a letter dated September 21, Kobayashi explained that the extension was made with the permission of the Tokyo District Court and applies to the base repayment, early lump-sum repayment, and intermediate repayment. He also mentioned that repayments to rehabilitation creditors who have provided the necessary information may begin by the end of the year. The Mt. Gox estate currently holds approximately 142,000 Bitcoin, 143,000 Bitcoin Cash, and 69 billion Japanese yen. Mt. Gox was a major cryptocurrency exchange that collapsed in 2014, resulting in the loss of 850,000 BTC. Click here for more.

Bitcoin pioneer Hal Finney talks ZK-proofs in 25-year-old unearthed footage

A newly unearthed video from the Crypto '98 conference held on August 26, 1998, in Santa Barbara features early Bitcoin pioneer Hal Finney discussing zero-knowledge proofs (ZK proofs) more than 25 years ago. In the video, Finney explains the concept of zero-knowledge proofs, a cryptographic technology that gained significant popularity decades later in the context of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Zero-knowledge proofs enable one user to convince another that a particular claim is true without revealing any details about the claim itself. Finney's discussion of ZK proofs showcases his early recognition of cryptographic concepts that would later become foundational in the development of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Hal Finney is renowned for his contributions to the early days of the cryptocurrency industry and his close association with the pseudonymous founder of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. Some even believe Finney himself to be Satoshi Nakamoto. Click here for more.