Extending Blockchain’s Censorship Resistance

to Online Expression
Chhay Lin Lim
c.l.lim@saxion.nl
23-02-2021
 PRESENTATION CONTENT

1 Censorship problems on the Internet

2 A natural rights defense of freedom of speech

3 Extending Blockchain’s censorship resistance to online

expression
 CENSORSHIP PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET

1960s: Internet 1990: Web 1.0 2000s: Web 2.0 Web 3.0

Basic infrastructure for Tim-Berners Lee invents the
communication and World Wide Web. One-way
cooperation communication via static
websites
Content consumers are also
content producers. The
Web is more dynamic, and
social media and
videosharing emerge.
Users own their own data,
content is more
personalized, decentralized
and semantic

Low quality media,

centralization, censorship,
and content producers are
not fairly rewarded for their
content contributions
 DEFENSE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH

My argument runs as follows:

1. People have the right of self-ownership, based on a Lockean natural rights
philosophy;
2. If people have the right of self-ownership, they also have the right of voluntary
association and freedom of speech;
3. The right of voluntary association implies the right of secession, which in itself
is an important means to deal with the reality of value pluralism and the
potential social conflicts that may result from it. One way to deal with this
reality, albeit not perfect, is a participatory democracy;
4. If people have the right of self-ownership, they also have the right to keep the
fruits of their labor;
5. In support of the rights mentioned above, people should uphold the principle
not to aggress on these rights - the non-aggression principle (NAP).
 BLOCKCHAIN ENHANCED SPEECH

We can use blockchain technology to enhance intellect,

creativity and expression.
 WHY BLOCKCHAIN?

• Blockchain’s censorship resistance

• Blockchain is copied and distributed over a large
network of computers
• No single point of failure (SPOF)
• No Trusted Third Party (TTP)
• Peer-2-peer transactions
• Data is immutable and timestamped

• Coins can be used to stimulate good behavior

Extending Blockchain’s Censorship Resistance
to Online Expression
Chhay Lin Lim
c.l.lim@saxion.nl
23-02-2021