Re: Idealism, meet business model
@Rob V
who probably won't get to read this because the crowd has moved on, but I'll put the reply here for the record, if for no other reason than being able to refer back to it myself at some later date
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Another key feature of our solution is that we never hold or publish sensitive data. All we guarantee is proof of integrity of the data protected by the system. We have no idea what those data are and we don't need or want to know.
It's broadly suitable for anyone wishing to be able to prove - if challenged at a later date - that the relevant data remains as it when registered.
Here are some of the things I've personally considered it useful to protect, anonymously:
Ensuring I can win any "their word against mine" arguments:
eg recordings of sensitive skype conversations I've had - the most significant of which were with sundry commercial services who have failed to deliver on (whatever) or threatened me with sanctions over perceived failures on my part (eg a 3 year row I had with Npower)
or more often, even when not in dispute, just wishing to ensure I had verifiable evidence of the exchange.
dash cam footage I've captured of extremely dangerous driving by other motorists (some of which I've passed to the Police)
dash cam footage of an accident where I was at fault but was a minor collision (I sent that to my Insurance company. I needed to ensure that the other party didn't overclaim the damage)
drafts of intellectual property concepts I'm working on at various stages, but not yet ready to publish
covert recordings of interviews conducted between a disabled relative and a DWP agent performing an assessment of her condition with the intent of reviewing her benefit entitlements
Sundry predictions I've made where I anticipated needing to be able to prove that I'd made the prediction ahead of the actual event **
and so on.
In nearly all of the cases above, there was no need or desire on my part to publish either the material or my association with it. It was merely a sensible precaution.
Other examples I haven't personally used include the protection of photographs, music, poetry and literature, and any other digitally captured creative work, particularly in draft form
Contracts where neither party seeks or needs publicity
Entire audit trails - for example the accounts for a commercial company - including all the detail they would never normally publsh. (But if challenged, can use the proof of integrity to show that an entire data set remains as it was at the relevant date)
In fact the list is endless. It is telling that in today's world even some Reg readers find it difficult to understand why Anonymity is a perfectly valid and reasonable requirement and how that doesn't conflict with people still wanting to be able to prove their claims if challenged. It's an example of what I call Anonymous Accountability.
**such as my 2015 prediction that the Republicans would nominate Trump. I didn't predict his actual election though! I was confident that the repubs were rabid enough to nominate him but I was also confident that the Americans as a whole were not stupid enough to elect him. Definitely got that one wrong!