Commonwealth Secretariat releases secure blockchain communication software

Rage Review : The Commonwealth Secretariat has released a secure blockchain communication software, the launch of which will further broaden the application of blockchain. Nowadays, people are paying more and more attention to the privacy issues of communication software, and blockchain encryption technology will be of great benefit to solving this problem. Although this has also attracted some controversy, we believe that with the continuous changes in technology, blockchain will be applicable to more and more fields in the future, and the number of people who benefit will also increase.

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Commonwealth Secretariat releases secure blockchain communication software

The Commonwealth Secretariat, the executive arm of the 53-member Commonwealth, has launched a communications tool for governments and law enforcement agencies that uses blockchain technology to ensure security.

The project is a collaboration with the British startup DISC (Digital Identity Security Company) to provide a secure communication platform for Commonwealth governments and law enforcement agencies.

The move comes more than a year after the Commonwealth Secretariat first got involved in the cryptocurrency investigation, when it commissioned a report on cryptocurrencies, which was released in February. The report called on member states to take a position on the legal position of digital currencies, while also proposing "innovative" regulatory solutions for the technology.

The group has already carried out some activities in the digital currency space, including a meeting in October last year that brought together representatives from about 30 Commonwealth central banks to discuss global remittance technology.

This discussion led the Secretariat to work on a secure messaging application that uses blockchain as a means to connect dispersed individuals and identify them through digital platforms, in response to a public procurement request last year.

Steven Malby

Steven Malby, head of the rule of law department at the Commonwealth Secretariat, said in an interview that the software can reduce the burden of sharing electronic evidence between different jurisdictions of the Commonwealth and meet the government's digital identity requirements.

He said in our interview:

"There are two major issues at the moment. One is the connectivity issue for all 53 countries in the Commonwealth, and the other is the identification issue because the roles played by countries are constantly changing."

In addition, he said:

“Blockchain is an ideal way for us to solve these problems.”

The development of the software involves governments around the world, especially in Europe and the United States, which need an encrypted communication tool to prevent potential terrorists. However, the move has attracted strong criticism from privacy advocates and some technologists, who believe that all measures, including legislation, will actually bring more risks to people.

Use Cases

Currently, encrypted communication methods on the market include the well-known Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), as well as other commercial software, all of which are aimed at customers who value privacy. DISC Chairman John Edge pointed out in our interview that communication platforms like Symphony are more in line with the scope and purpose of Commonwealth communications. (Symphony, a financial communication platform, raised $100 million last October.)

John Edge

In the interview, John Edge said that his goal is to provide a secure information transmission tool for governments and individuals.

“Secure communication tools have been a hot topic in today’s world. We started planning this project about a year ago, but I think just as individuals need to protect their privacy in the digital world, businesses and governments are also concerned about this issue.”

In addition to law enforcement use cases, Malby believes these solutions are also applicable to other fields, especially global development, healthcare, and education.

He explained:

"International organizations face a lot of problems, whether it's health, education, or other areas that require cooperation, they have to deal with coordination between countries. This technology can be applied to any field network."