SecureOpinion
SecureOpinion is a fully decentralised, secure, privacy-preserving openly accessible opinion-sharing platform.
Online opinions, whether right or wrong, can significantly influence people to make decisions across various domains, from consumers buying products to sharing political ideologies and voting on certain issues. Fake reviews, spoofed and compromised identities, and sponsored accounts might be involved in coordinated campaigns of disinformation that can distort public perception, damage reputations, and erode trust in online information. The current opinion sharing systems are centralised, that could allow data or opinion manipulation and censorship. Furthermore, whistleblowers or legitimate users such as journalists or human rights activists hesitate to express their honest opinions due to the fear of surveillance, retaliation, personal attacks, or reputation damage. In this project, we investigate the solution that leveraged the decentralised blockchain system to create a secure and privacy-preserving solution for public opinion sharing on online platforms, fostering increased trust and transparency. The proposal would investigate how blockchain technology can strengthen the security of public opinion sharing by establishing a tamper-resistant, decentralised ledger to record and verify user interactions and content dissemination. We would employ the zero-knowledge proof with the identity to ensure anonymity while still providing verifiability. The proposed solution embraces a user-centred strategy by giving priority to user experience, privacy, and democratic principles.
- Motivation for the project: The manipulation and misuse of online opinions pose serious threats to democracy and public-facing social media platforms. Therefore, there is a growing demand for mechanisms ensuring the authenticity of public discourse. Additionally, the rise in fraudulent activities in online transactions causes the need for stringent security practices considering economic and social activities on these platforms. This research proposes a blockchain-based secure, and privacy-preserving solution for public opinion sharing on social media platforms. The solutions align with TrustChain OC3's overarching objectives, tapping into the market trend of increased blockchain adoption for governance. Moreover, its focus on preserving anonymity responds to rising concerns about data privacy and fosters trust within decentralised communities. To tackle these concerns, the proposed project utilises the power of zero-knowledge blockchain solutions. This approach guarantees the credibility of public discussions by implementing cryptographic methods that verify viewpoints without disclosing the identities of those involved in the discussion or sharing their opinions. The utilisation of blockchain smart contracts ensures transparency, reducing the chances of fraudulent activities. This perfectly aligns with TrustChain OC3's objective of promoting reliable decentralised solutions in both economics and democracy. The primary motivation is to propose a solution that safeguards anonymity, ensures the security of public opinions, and advocates for transparent and tamper-proof decision-making procedures that align with TrustChain OC3's objectives.
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Generic use case description: University Policy Reforms using SecureOpinion Platform
A user (a university teacher) wants to contribute his ideas on improving educational accessibility and curriculum reforms at his institution. He joins SecureOpinion, a blockchain-based platform designed for secure and anonymous public discussions on university policy reforms. By registering with the decentralised identity management system, the user receives a unique, anonymous identity, ensuring his personal details remain confidential and allowing him to voice his opinions without fear of identification or reprisal. The user submits an opinion outlining the benefits of his proposed reforms, which aim to enhance access to education for underserved student populations. His submission is validated using zero-knowledge proofs, ensuring its authenticity without revealing his identity. The verified opinion is then recorded immutably on the blockchain, safeguarding it against tampering. Other stakeholders, including students, faculty members, and university administrators, join the discussion on SecureOpinion. Each participant’s contributions are similarly validated, maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the debate. The platform’s anonymity encourages open dialogue, enabling users to express candid opinions and suggestions on sensitive topics such as curriculum changes, funding allocation, and accessibility measures. As the discussion gains momentum, the university administration uses the insights gathered to refine their reform proposals. To motivate continued engagement, SecureOpinion incorporates a rewards system, compensating users for valuable contributions. The user proposal receives recognition and a small reward, enhancing his sense of contribution and encouraging further involvement. Through SecureOpinion, the university successfully fosters a transparent, inclusive, and productive dialogue on policy reforms. -
Essential functionalities: Through the integration of zero-knowledge proof and blockchain technology, the proposed system guarantees that contributors can securely and anonymously express their opinions, thereby promoting a sense of trust within decentralised communities. The zero-knowledge proof cryptographic algorithm incorporates a groundbreaking layer of privacy, which allows contributors to substantiate their opinions without leaving their identity proofs. This privacy layer will ensure a secure and decentralised environment for opinion sharing within e-governance models.
The proposed system supports the essential right of privacy and aligns with the democratic values of open discussion without the fear of negative consequences. This privacy layer will ensure a secure and decentralised environment for opinion sharing within e-governance models. The focus on enhancing the security and consistency of public opinion contributes to a design that revolves around the user, and empowering individuals in decentralised environments. The incorporation of blockchain will contribute to the enhancement of originality, by providing an immutable and transparent ledger that protects the integrity of public opinions. - How these functionalities can be integrated within the software ecosystem: The proposed solution aligns with the Trust Chain’s focus areas relevant to fair data marketplaces, decentralised ID, privacy, and democratic e-governance. The platform harnesses the capabilities of decentralised ID projects, and collaborates with ZKorum (another OC3 project), Alastria, and OC4 projects for multi-chain integration.
- Gap being addressed: SecureOpinion is the first user-centred opinion sharing platform that preserves user-privacy, enables AI-enabled content moderation, and provides complete control to publish, monetize, share, and revoke user-opinions. The platform is designed considering the GDPR requirements of EU and other regulatory bodies.
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Expected benefits achieved with the novel technology building blocks: The proposed solution ensures anonymity and immutability of public opinions by implementing zero-knowledge proof and blockchain technologies, which contributes to the goal of a reliable decentralised ecosystem. Various end-user groups, especially those seeking the need for fair marketplaces and fair governance will find this platform promising in addressing their needs.
The proposed platform is intended to contribute to the improvement of the democratic process and the formation of secure data marketplaces, which demonstrates notable socio-economic impact. Being a transparent decision-making and secure public opinion-sharing platform, the proposed solution upholds the socio-economic conditions of communities.
The proposed solution will have an extensive impact at the European and international levels. The deployment of secure public opinion sharing intends to create a safer digital environment which promotes trust in online interactions. Determinants of success include increased user adoption, online fraud reduction, and positive feedback from users on the security features of the platform. We promote a shift towards reliable and secure digital interactions and transactions by deploying a decentralised and transparent platform. Which in turn contributes to a wider digital economy by the promotion of reliable data marketplaces and data exchange mechanisms. - Potential demonstration scenario: To demonstrate the working of the Secure Opinion, the platform can be utilised to gather and analyse community feedback and their opinion for the planning and development of a new public service facility, such as a library, playground, community centre, or healthcare clinic. The platform could be used to introduce the purpose of the new public service facility and its importance to the community. The SecureOpinion platform would then allow participants to provide their feedback with inherent privacy-preservation. The systems ensure that only registered and verified users can participate in the process while ensuring the privacy of their opinions and their participating status. The systems verify the identity of the user while not learning their real identity and their provided opinions thus ensuring privacy of their feedback. The participants are also not revealed; however, their opinions are verifiable. To demonstrate this, we would hire a group of people and then ask their opinions on specific services and evaluate the system for accuracy, verifiability, integrity, security and privacy.
Team
Dr. Habib Ur Rehman
Dr. Habib Ur Rehman is a senior researcher and consultant at Innobox Ltd, U.K. His research interests include blockchain technologies, distributed systems and federated learning.
Dr. Muhammad Alam
Dr. Muhammad Alam, Senior Researcher and Director at Innobox Ltd, U.K. His research expertise are in distributed systems and smart cities applications.
Prof. Ali Kashif Bashir
Prof. Ali Kashif Bashir, Professor of Computer Networks and Cybersecurity, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. He is the leader of: Secure and Intelligent Systems Research Group; Future Networks Lab; IoT/Cybersecurity Testbed; and Co-Lead of AI Safety and Security, MMU-Turing Network.
Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Azad
Dr Muhammad Ajmal Azad is a Consultant at Innobox Ltd, U.K. His research interests broadly cover the areas of network security and privacy.
EntitIES
Innobox LTD
Innobox LTD is a private limited company that provides research and experimental development..
Website: https://innobox.co.uk/
