Child Abuse Pics Found In Bitcoin's Blockchain - NSA Tracks BTC Users

Let's also decide that the whole internet is illegal because of such! sarc

It would be on the same train of thought.

One single country can not stop the block chain because it along with many financial institutions are global.

The thought of making webcoins illegal is not well thought out unless the goal is total destruction in which case that energy always is reflected back to the creators of such thoughts.

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan
a reply to: loam

Love how things never seem to gain clarity.

That will certainly be enjoyed by those authorities who engage in selective prosecution.

originally posted by: loam

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan
a reply to: loam

Love how things never seem to gain clarity.

That will certainly be enjoyed by those authorities who engage in selective prosecution.

Only if we allow them to continue.

There is a way to have a system that removes such unethical behavior.

From the top down you gotta clean up the mess and weed out the unrighteous.

Something isn't being reported properly. A block in the bitcoin blockchain has a very specific format. The block is made up of a series of transactions. On top of that, each block is encrypted and can only be decrypted with the right key. Lets suppose someone put the binary content of an image into a bitcoin block, it wouldn't be detectable by anyone unless they decrypt it. So I wonder how the researchers discovered this?

Notice that the quotes from the German researchers in the article never mention Bitcoin. The always refer to blockchain though. I have a feeling that, once again, the media is confused with the terms. That is, blockchain is not bitcoin! Anyone can create a blockchain for any purpose.

a reply to: LogicalGraphitti

According to the article I posted:

Although the Bitcoin blockchain is designed to record every transaction with the cryptocurrency, you can also add snippets of non-financial data too. This has benefits. For instance, a notary service can tie a Bitcoin transaction to a digital document.

From the articles I have read, seems universally accepted this is specific to Bitcoin. I do wonder, however, about your encryption point. That is a really good question.

a reply to: LogicalGraphitti

yep just ask the satellite tv companies.

excellent point

originally posted by: loam
a reply to: LogicalGraphitti

According to the article I posted:

Although the Bitcoin blockchain is designed to record every transaction with the cryptocurrency, you can also add snippets of non-financial data too. This has benefits. For instance, a notary service can tie a Bitcoin transaction to a digital document.

From the articles I have read, seems universally accepted this is specific to Bitcoin. I do wonder, however, about your encryption point. That is a really good question.

That is the portion that can be cleaned

a reply to: MindBodySpiritComplex

Uhhh this is news?

Anyone who knows the origins and history of bitcoin can tell you it was first utilized for sketchy stuff.

I can still remember browsing silk road when TOR was new as a teenager with my friend and laughing and gasping at all the crazy stuff you can buy with it, machine guns, prostitutes, drugs, "special" folders containing images and videos, gee I wonder what was in them.

Crypto has it's dark side right now. Especially bitcoin.

a reply to: MindBodySpiritComplex

it's not putting cryptos in jeapordy..anymore than microsoft is not held to the same standard for allowing porn to be sent via the web for how many years?

Okay, this is embarrassing! data in a Bitcoin block is not encrypted. Sorry I caused confusion. There is encryption but only for the the parts that identify users. Anyone can read the data. That means the researchers could find embedded files.

From ccn.com (not CNN)

There is no encryption of the data stored in the block chain. Bitcoin is a pseudonymous system. Meaning, ECDSA key pairs are used to abstract the identity of users. However, the binary data in the block chain can be read.

Sorry everyone!

EDIT... I'm not giving the stars back

originally posted by: FamCore
a reply to: MindBodySpiritComplex

Since all blockchain data is downloaded and persistently stored by users, they are liable for any objectionable content added to the blockchain by others. Consequently, it would be illegal to participate in a blockchain-based systems as soon as it contains illegal content,” the researchers wrote.

Maybe I'm technically illiterate in this case, but how is this any different from individuals participating in social media platforms, or other apps that also have illegal content? Terrorism outfits like ISIS use Twitter... FB... these stupid apps on our phones allow for all sorts of predators to do sick things to people. What am I missing here?

The block chain is like an accounting ledger, except that each row in that ledger is an encrypted block of bits, that is based on previous entries and future entries. That make it impossible to change a single row. But that block of encrypted bits can be a porn image, a link to a porn image or a link to a web site. Now you have that giant ledger file sitting on your PC containing god knows what.

In the UK, just by having a random combination of bits forming an porn image on your PC is enough for you to be arrested, your computers, gadgets and electronics to be seized for forensic analysis, protestors to fire-bomb your home and to have to live the rest of your life in solitary confinement in prison.

originally posted by: LogicalGraphitti
Okay, this is embarrassing! data in a Bitcoin block is not encrypted. Sorry I caused confusion. There is encryption but only for the the parts that identify users. Anyone can read the data. That means the researchers could find embedded files.

From ccn.com (not CNN)

There is no encryption of the data stored in the block chain. Bitcoin is a pseudonymous system. Meaning, ECDSA key pairs are used to abstract the identity of users. However, the binary data in the block chain can be read.

Sorry everyone!

EDIT... I'm not giving the stars back

But the binary can be encrypted with a password. It's just a block of bits. It can be anything.

originally posted by: dug88
a reply to: FamCore

Because in order for bitcoin to work every person has a copy of the entire blockchain that gets updated when transactions are.made. Therefore every person will possess the illegal material. Social media sites are stored on servers making the owners and hosters liable. You can get # if you click on illegal things on social media and your device views it, downloads it or caches it but otherwise it's the uploader's and hoster's responsibility.

This is mostly untrue, only miners are required to download the blockchain, or certain blocks. Everyone else only needs an address. I can send and receive Bitcoin without having any of the blockchain on any of my devices.

originally posted by: stormcell

originally posted by: LogicalGraphitti
Okay, this is embarrassing! data in a Bitcoin block is not encrypted. Sorry I caused confusion. There is encryption but only for the the parts that identify users. Anyone can read the data. That means the researchers could find embedded files.

From ccn.com (not CNN)

There is no encryption of the data stored in the block chain. Bitcoin is a pseudonymous system. Meaning, ECDSA key pairs are used to abstract the identity of users. However, the binary data in the block chain can be read.

Sorry everyone!

EDIT... I'm not giving the stars back

But the binary can be encrypted with a password. It's just a block of bits. It can be anything.

That's true. But, it isn't by definition of bitcoin or blockchain specifications.

originally posted by: prevenge

originally posted by: dug88
a reply to: FamCore

Because in order for bitcoin to work every person has a copy of the entire blockchain that gets updated when transactions are.made. Therefore every person will possess the illegal material.

That's only for "core" user nodes.

If this is true, what makes a regular holder of cryptocurrencies any different from the "core" user nodes? From your post, it sounds like this law could only apply to a limited number of crypto-users

Gee I wonder who would put that in the block chain. Seems like a great way to get rid of btc and it’s users. Reminds me of something...poor Snow White

ina reply to: MindBodySpiritComplex

Matter of time I guess. If it wasn't present years before, I don't doubt some sickos may have placed it there but so can people wanting to bring an end to it. Some time ago the main warning was if you download the wallet chain, you are downloading chains that contributed to child abuse, etc. Being this is even more invasive into the blockchain the opportune moment will be grabbed to attempt to shut the system down. I hope some cryptographers can or other can deal with the problem before such.

a reply to: MindBodySpiritComplex

I dont think the idea is to go after users so much as I suspect its their intention to go after block chain technology it self.