Cryptography for the People: Protecting marginalised groups from mass surveillance
Contributor(s)
Anna Storli Tveit, Katrien De Moor
Session
Cryptography and Privacy in the Margins
Abstract
This submission would present the findings of my Master's thesis work during the spring of 2023 investigating a people-centred approach to cryptography and what role cryptographers can play in protecting marginalised groups against mass surveillance. Based on a systematic literature review and conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 acknowledged experts on the topic, the thesis has found challenges, entry barriers and opportunities with such an approach in the field of cryptography. It has also found an opportunity for multi-disciplinary research and the entry barriers and challenges of realising it. In addition, it has identified how cryptographers can engage more through implicit and overt politics in the context of countering mass surveillance and, in that regard, help protect marginalised groups.