news/data/2024/week08.md

---
curator: PG
---

### Research
* [Memetic warfare](https://dark.fi/insights/memetic-warfare.html): notes from the W3PN Summit meme talk by @lunar_mining
* [The State of the Culture](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-state-of-the-culture-2024) (2024): a non pretty glimpse into post-entertainment society
* EFF: [Unregulated, Exploitative, and on the Rise](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/02/unregulated-exploitative-and-rise-vera-institutes-report-electronic-monitoring) report on electronic monitoring from Vera Institute
* [WTF is Aztec?](https://aztec.network/blog/wtf-is-aztec/) introduction article
* Hackernoon: [The Role of Asset-Agnostic Privacy](https://hackernoon.com/navigating-multichain-environments-the-role-of-asset-agnostic-privacy)
* Wired: experience with [Signal usernames](https://web.archive.org/web/20240225123658/https://www.wired.com/story/signal-launches-usersnames-phone-number-privacy/)
* The Big Brother Watch: thread on X [comparing CBDCs around the world](https://x.com/bigbrotherwatch/status/1761005320938156182?s=46&t=b1BOenGGst5sOeePtNVPjQ)
* Google: [AI privacy risks from sharing with chatbots](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2024/02/12/google-warns-as-free-ai-upgrade-for-iphone-android-and-samsung-users/)

### Ecosystem
* Fluidkey launched [alpha version on Optimism](https://twitter.com/fluidkey/status/1760364897831960833)
* Aleo users alarmed by [leaked KYC documents](https://cointelegraph.com/news/privacy-focused-aleo-users-concerned-after-kyc-documents-leak)
* Railgun [surpasses $20m TVL](https://x.com/RAILGUN_Project/status/1760811652482830549?s=2) ([src](https://defillama.com/protocol/railgun))
* [Privacy x Web3 job board](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dN6bIWyOh01Dl-y1iZh-1TASZxKUefD098BUALcnUb8/edit)
 by @nicksvyaznoy and @niclaz (updated)

### Grants
* Ethereum Foundation: [The first ZK Grants Round](https://esp.ethereum.foundation/zk-grants) is now open ($900k) ([src](https://twitter.com/ethereum/status/1760378315141939674))
* Zcash: [grant for Maya Protocol](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/transparent-shielded-dex-with-maya-protocol/46857/46) approved ($110k) ([src](https://twitter.com/crypto_cr0c/status/1760091597902106955))

### Releases
* NymVPN [v0.0.4](https://x.com/nymproject/status/1760082042274918772?s=20)\: initial release

### Podcasts


* [Privacy tools in the real world](https://x.com/lunarpunksquad/status/1760681059229048859?s=20) (LunarDAO)
* [Protecting health data & patient privacy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XplgVgPiXo) (Verida Network x Partisia Blockchain)
* [Alternatives to CEXs](https://twitter.com/firoorg/status/1761747274034774285) (Firo)
* [Privacy + blockchain: how important is it?](https://twitter.com/QuickswapDEX/status/1760428696534466743) (QuickSwap)

### Governments
* Russia [arrested a woman for a $51 donation](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/20/russia-arrests-us-dual-national-for-51-ukrainian-charity-donation) to Ukraine charity, facing up to 20 years in prison
* [The real story of the SEC's suit](https://twitter.com/DavidLRipley/status/1760829432292405368) from Kraken CEO @DavidLRipley
* ‘Privacy and Security’ Should Be [the Core of National Digital ID](https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/privacy-and-security-should-be-the-core-of-national-digital-id-australias-largest-bank-5583047?welcomeuser=1)
* Australian experts discusses [privacy and data collection by smart home devices](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/feb/11/is-my-home-spying-on-me-as-smart-devices-move-in-experts-fear-australians-are-oversharing)
* Canadian Privacy Commissioner highlights concerns on [RCMP's web surveillance with private tech](https://www.rebelnews.com/privacy_commissioner_highlights_concerns_on_rcmp_s_web_surveillance_with_private_tech)

### Other
* Bitcoin Magazine: Adam Back's complete [emails with Satoshi Nakamato](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/bitcoin-adam-backs-complete-emails-satoshi-nakamoto)
* Satoshi Nakamoto's earliest collaborator Martii 'Sirius' Malmi released their [entire email history](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/bitcoin-adam-backs-complete-emails-satoshi-nakamoto)



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### Upcoming events
*(new/changes in **bold**)*

* Apr 10, [zkSummit](https://www.zksummit.com/) (Athens) conference
* Apr 12-14, [ETHDam](https://www.ethdam.com/) hackathon
* May 24-26, [ETHBerlin](https://ethberlin.org/) hackathon
* May 30, [Web3Privacy Now Summit](https://web3privacy.info/events/) (Prague) conference
* Jun 7-9, [MoneroKon](https://monerokon.org/) (Prague) conference & hackathon
* Jun 19-26, [Web3Privacy Now Hackathon](https://web3privacy.info/events/) (Bled)
* Oct 4-6, [Hackers Congress Paralelní Polis (HCPP)](https://hcpp.cz/) (Prague) conference
* **Oct 4-6, [ETHRome](https://ethrome.org/) hackathon**
* Oct, [Web3Privacy Now Summit](https://web3privacy.info/events/) (Brno) conference
* Oct, [ETHBrno](https://ethbrno.cz/) hackathon