Could we live with the "perfect security" blockchains promise? | Joseph Bonneau | TEDxBend

Blockchains promise to enforce rules perfectly for many types of security protocol, from simple payments to more complex smart contracts. But do we want perfect enforcement? In this talk, Joseph Bonneau argues that we should always preserve the ability of courts and governments to override computers. Joseph Bonneau a professor at NYU, where he teaches his students about the increasing importance of computers as the enforcers of society’s rules and norms. Ever since he programmed his middle school library’s iMac to blare rap music every morning, Joseph Bonneau has enjoyed using computers in ways they weren’t intended. He’s now a professor at NYU, where he teaches his students about the increasing importance of computers as the enforcers of society’s rules and norms. Bonneau’s recent fascinations have been the incredible potential of cryptocurrencies and blockchains to enforce security automatically, without trusting traditional institutions like governments and courts, as well as the risks of this technology going too far. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx