Snowden's BTC conference speech in full: The privacy of BTC is decreasing, and regulatory agencies are able to access on-chain information

Compilation | Wu said blockchain

Video original text:

Hello, everyone. I am very happy to be with you all. The atmosphere here is very enthusiastic. Although I can’t hear your voices (video presentation), I will start directly. First of all, it is my honor to be here. I recently spoke at a Bitcoin conference in Amsterdam, and it is amazing how much has changed in just nine months.

Last time, we discussed how game rules could be manipulated, but we can’t leave because despite being treated unfairly, this feeling makes it hard for us to let go. We know they’re breaking the rules not because we like it, but because we’ve never had any other choice. What’s surprising now is that we’re starting to create our own alternatives.

Nine months ago, everyone was following Gary Gensler. I have to remind everyone that Gary Gensler is not the “master” of Bitcoin. Now the debate has become easier because we see that Bitcoin is resilient. Ladies and gentlemen, we are winning, but not completely, so we must remain vigilant and not be too confident.

This year, many people will talk about the positive aspects, so you don’t need me to do these. I noticed that we have more political representatives this year, which is very good. We have reached the stage where they are fighting against us, but now they are trying to make us like them.

I want to briefly talk about politics. Do not blindly follow a political group. These politicians are not our companions; they have their own interests and values. Get what you need from them, but do not give yourself to them, even if you have to vote for them.

I hope we can reflect on our current situation, how we got here, and the direction for the future. A passage from Adam Smith’s ‘The Wealth of Nations’ resonates with me: In every country of the world, the rulers and sovereigns’ greed and injustice, abusing the trust of their subjects, gradually reduced the actual amount of metal contained in their coins.

Although we no longer deal with fiat currency, the problems caused by this mindset are everywhere. Especially on the Internet, they are suffocating us. The problems of the Internet reflect the problems of the world: an unfair system built around us, concentrating resources in the hands of a few. Whether it is broadcast media, newspapers, or social media, minority opinions can only survive under tolerance.

We see Canadian truck drivers having their bank accounts canceled and Colombian students fired for their speech. They should have the right to debate, persuade, dissent, and challenge. Differences promote progress.

If we accept that the inherited system is the best, we are denying the necessity of change. Every good thing we enjoy is the product of someone’s labor and wisdom, and the system around us is designed to extract and return it to a few people as much as possible.

Our lives are increasingly being controlled by screens and service terms dictated by intermediaries. Whether it’s Facebook or Google, they have abused everyone’s trust. GDPR, which was supposed to solve these problems, has not succeeded. These technologies are being systematized to benefit institutions, not individuals.

We hope to cooperate and collaborate, but what we need is Consensus, not just clicking “Agree to continue”. This needs to change. We are making progress in terms of money, which is why there is political interest among these audiences. But we are facing new challenges in artificial intelligence.

I’m not worried about the kind of AI security that involves robots taking over. I believe AI models should be open to everyone. Companies like OpenAI want to benefit from your data while keeping these models secret. The good news is that running these models at home is becoming easier and easier. Even companies like Facebook, which act out of self-interest rather than altruism, are contributing to this openness.

Why discuss this at a Bitcoin conference? Bitcoin transactions are not private. They are permanent, public, and traceable. Although Bitcoin is not completely anonymous, it is generally assumed to have privacy, which is increasingly diminishing.

Traditional exchange will share trading information with regulatory agencies and governments. While some parts of the blockchain are still unidentified, private transactions are decreasing. When they have your trading history, they have your life history.

Soon, machine learning models will be used to track and analyze transaction data, making monitoring and control easier. This applies to all forms of transactions, not just Bitcoin. Institutions such as Visa and Mastercard will be part of this system, reviewing transactions and affecting your ability to transact.

We need to ensure the security of transactions on the Bitcoin network. Despite being used for many years, the space for private interactions is shrinking. We cannot rely on big companies to protect our data, as evidenced by the AT&T incident where subscriber information was leaked to a Hacker.

These data sets are a burden, and we know they cannot protect them. We must be aware of the potential for abuse and work together to protect our systems.

The United States lacks basic privacy laws, which is different from other advanced democratic countries. The Fourth Amendment only constrains the federal government, not companies. Most intelligence work is done by companies, bypassing constitutional protections. We tolerate this because we feel we have no choice, but we don’t have much time to solve this problem.

The consequences of ignoring this point are becoming increasingly serious. It’s not about robots taking over; it’s about ordinary but powerful control. We need to change the system to avoid being pawns in a game that only benefits a few.

Let’s work together to create a better future. We need to break the design that pits individuals against each other while institutions continue to grow. Competition is everywhere, but only among the powerless. We need to address systemic impacts and work together to regain control over our lives.

Thank you.