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A Blockchain-Based Framework to Enhance Anonymous Services with Accountability Guarantees

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Buccafurri

    (Department of Information Engineering, Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (DIIES), Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Via dell’Università 25, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

  • Vincenzo De Angelis

    (Department of Information Engineering, Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (DIIES), Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Via dell’Università 25, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

  • Sara Lazzaro

    (Department of Information Engineering, Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (DIIES), Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Via dell’Università 25, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

Abstract

Anonymous service delivery has attracted the interest of research and the industry for many decades. To obtain effective solutions, anonymity should be guaranteed against the service provider itself. However, if the full anonymity of users is implemented, no accountability mechanism can be provided. This represents a problem, especially when referring to scenarios in which a user, protected by anonymity, may perform illegally when leveraging the anonymous service. In this paper, we propose a blockchain-based solution to the trade-off between anonymity and accountability. In particular, our solution relies on three independent parties (one of which is the service provider itself) such that only the collaboration of all three actors allows for the disclosure of the real identity of the user. In all other cases, anonymity is guaranteed. To show the feasibility of the proposal, we developed a prototype with user-friendly interfaces that minimize the client-side operations. Our solution is then also effective from the point of view of usability.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Buccafurri & Vincenzo De Angelis & Sara Lazzaro, 2022. "A Blockchain-Based Framework to Enhance Anonymous Services with Accountability Guarantees," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-20, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jftint:v:14:y:2022:i:8:p:243-:d:893781
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Renee Carnley & Sikha Bagui, 2022. "A Public Infrastructure for a Trusted Wireless World," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-12, June.
    2. Horst Treiblmaier, 2022. "What Is Coming across the Horizon and How Can We Handle It? Bitcoin Scenarios as a Starting Point for Rigorous and Relevant Research," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Giuseppe Antonio Pierro & Roberto Tonelli & Michele Marchesi, 2020. "An Organized Repository of Ethereum Smart Contracts’ Source Codes and Metrics," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Massimo Cafaro & Italo Epicoco & Marco Pulimeno, 2024. "State-of-the-Art Future Internet Technology in Italy 2022–2023," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-4, February.

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