Data Privacy through Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Abstract

With a growing reliance on the Internet, users are required to provide vast amounts of personal information in exchange for using online services. Once given over, the user releases all control and ownership of her/his information. Some users of the Internet rely on strong server-side protections and the assurances that the data will be used ethically in their best interests. Recent legislation actions have focused on limiting the amount of data required and regulating the usage of that data once collected. However, a new subset of cryptography, zero-knowledge proofs, may eliminate the need for users to relinquish their data. These zero-knowledge proofs combined with Blockchain technology could give users complete ownership of their information and provide them with the ability to revoke a third-parties access to it. This survey report is a review the current body of literature relating to this topic with the goal of understanding the feasibility of this solution.