Reimagining Technology: Embedding Human Values within the Digital Age

Opinion by: Shady El Damaty, Co-founder of Human.Tech

While discussions about futuristic technologies often grab headlines, there is a brewing crisis beneath the surface. Many enthusiasts and developers are raising red flags concerning the path we’re on with emerging tech.

The Growing Concerns in Crypto and Decentralized Identity

Despite the large promise that crypto and decentralized identity systems hold for individual empowerment and power distribution, there is a wave of skepticism. This is not just idle chatter—there are pressing concerns about surveillance, innovation being cloaked in centralization, and tools that appear to cater to the powerful somewhat than the people.

Real-World Implications on Digital Rights

These issues aren’t theoretical anymore. From scams using deepfakes and AI impersonations to state-sponsored biometric IDs and the EU AI Act, digital rights are being shaped as we speak. Alarmingly, much of this is occurring without the general public’s nod of approval.

Given these challenges, the talk is not about whether human rights must be a part of crypto systems—it’s about how quickly we will integrate them.

Designing With Values on the Core

It’s not technology itself that is the problem, however the values we bake into it. For crypto to stay credible, human rights have to be woven into its very fabric.

Concepts like self-custody, universal personhood, and default privacy should not be afterthoughts. These have to be foundational pillars for any system aiming to reinforce human freedom.

Rethinking Self-Custody to Focus on People

If we ignore ethical principles now, we risk rebuilding the ability structures that Web3 was speculated to dismantle. Self-custody, a key tenet of crypto, has exposed its own shortcomings—as seen within the downfall of centralized platforms like FTX. Most solutions today are more fitted to tech-savvy users than the common person.

To truly empower users, future custody solutions have to be user-friendly without compromising control. The goal is to design systems that mix security with simplicity and sovereignty.

Making Universal Personhood a Digital Standard

As bots and AI interactions proliferate, proving one’s humanity online is becoming crucial. We need ways to confirm human identity that do not infringe on privacy or autonomy.

Government-run biometric IDs and company credentialing systems present significant threats. Instead, we’d like decentralized, censorship-resistant systems that allow individuals to substantiate their humanity without giving it away. This is significant for constructing trust and inclusion within the digital realm.

Privacy: More Than Just an Option

Privacy-by-default must be the norm, not an afterthought. Systems have to be designed to attenuate data collection, use encryption from the bottom up, and maintain user autonomy over their data. The default setting should at all times be user protection, not unnecessary exposure.

Balancing Risk and Responsibility

Some argue that embedding values in systems might backfire, or be politicized. While this can be a valid concern, it shouldn’t paralyze us into inaction. Transparent design, open governance, and diverse alignment strategies can address these risks and ensure systems remain accountable to users, not only founders or investors.

Seizing the Moment for Ethical Tech Design

Web3 holds the promise of decentralizing power, empowering communities, and stopping misuse. But to appreciate this potential, builders must embed rights into the core of protocols, somewhat than try so as to add ethics post-launch.

We’re at a pivotal moment. Human rights should not be seen as external constraints. They have to be the inner guiding principles of digital infrastructure. This is just not only a philosophical ideal—it is a design necessity.

The opportunity is here, however it’s slipping away. If we wish a digital future that actually advantages humanity, the time to act is now.

Opinion by: Shady El Damaty, Co-founder of Human.Tech.

This article is for general information purposes only and mustn’t be taken as legal or investment advice. The views expressed are solely those of the creator and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph.