Cybernetica has completed the development of ZK-SecreC, an open-source toolkit designed for the secure creation of large-scale zero knowledge proofs. The innovative tool enables developers to protect confidential input data, ensuring that only the necessary information is revealed. ZK-SecreC facilitates the construction of zero knowledge proofs that exceed the size typically used in current blockchain and Web 3.0 applications, making it particularly beneficial for e-governance solutions.
Zero knowledge technology fundamentally alters how digital services are used. Instead of sending a document to an official for verification, individuals can present proof that the document contains the required information to access a service (such as a subsidy or grant). This technology allows individuals to maintain the privacy of their data while still providing proof. For instance, a person could demonstrate that they are of legal age or meet a health standard without disclosing their date of birth or full health records.
“We have developed a programming language that helps developers avoid mistakes when using zero knowledge technology, and it allows them to build larger proofs,” explained Peeter Laud, Senior Researcher at Cybernetica. “ZK-SecreC is compatible with several zero knowledge proof systems, including open-source.”
The open-source package includes example applications that illustrate novel uses of this technology in e-government. “We show how to incorporate digitally signed data into proofs, how to integrate data from sensors, and how to combine everything into a single proof,” said Dan Bogdanov, Chief Scientific Officer at Cybernetica. “One of our most exciting prototypes is a vehicle tracker (https://cyber.ee/resources/stories/ZKP-Dan-Bogdanov/) that proves a vehicle has travelled a certain distance within a specific region without revealing the exact route. This technology opens up new possibilities for cities, such as establishing low-emission zones where individual vehicles' precise locations are not constantly tracked,” Bogdanov added.
ZK-SecreC was developed in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Securing Information for Encrypted Verification and Evaluation (SIEVE) research program under contract HR0011-20-C-0083, and showcased at Pentagon Demo Day in late 2023. Cybernetica has published the source code on Github.
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