Assange makes the point that while it is intellectually entertaining, the average person will still have to trust expert analysis to see the proof as valid.
Since the blockchain is a public cryptographic ledger, any miner can add data to it, assuming they include a "proof of work." Bitcoin uses a bit of math call SHA256 to generate a fingerprint of the transaction. It's "one-way" in that it is difficult to create a hash, but very easy to verify.
Personally, I think we can take this as proof he's alive. I think it's interesting that people need this level of verification. I guess that's just how nervous people are these days. It also demonstrates the sorry state news organisations are in. The only person we trust right now needs to show cryptographic proof he's alive. The AMA has ended and you can skip to 1:53:00:
/v/113771480?t=01h53m00sTransactions:
https://blockchain.info/block/00000000000000000178374f687728789caa92ecb49b4d850dfc173a7c0351e6
My technical knowledge isn't sufficient to grasp what's going on here however I'm fairly sure he was under some sort of house arrest during the US presidential election. Could you further explain how that BTC transaction proves Assange is alive for non 'techies'?
Falsifying a BTC transaction OR anticipating the 'hash' created from a transaction (big number * big number = very big number) is neither economically nor technologically a viable option. The amount of computing power devoted to solving the "math" behind each bitcoin transaction is just too high for even state actors to compete in a short amount of time.
Him reading the most recent block hash is the new version of 'timestamping' your presence. He could not have known that hash prior to the event and the rest of the world can confirm it is in fact the current block as the hash would be the last known completed block.
Hey that was a great explanation. I want to cover this article in a YouTube video, can I use your comment as well?
Absolutely!
I'm not a technologically savvy person either. I'm still not convinced. He could of have been tortured to give up the math(??) of his technical signature?? I dunno, I don't understand the tech process at all. Why so elusive still? Why not just do the regular verifying of proof of life? Whats the issue? Seems stupid to me. His public physical pressence, fingerprints, dna, validation and confirmation with his personal life info via a close relative and another step or two ..... to rule out a clone replacement. Come on, really? I wonder if he has RH- Blood? Supposedly, non-clonable......Maybe an issue for faking his person and that's why he is basically 'missing in action'?? I'm not joking! Why so vague as usual w his confirmation of proof of life? Unacceptable and suspect. What's the legality of his imprisonment? The UN said not legal to UK and Sweden...... Immediate release and compensation even. That was last month. Is the US the legal issue? On what grounds? Is he still supposedly in London even? How hard is it to check? No press conferences? When I called the Ecudor Embassy, they said yes he is fine and here. That was in November. There needs to be special protection laws for Whistlerblowers. They are so brave like Chelsea Manning as well. They were outing the criminals. They are not the criminals in the situation! Way stupid
Assange himself explains it very well. He gave the block number and hash associated and all that matched up correctly. For tech nerds, that was very convincing.
He also gave final scores for recent sporting events. That wasn't convincing at all to me. :) For that to be convincing, I would have to take the time to research those facts and it's not in my immediate wheelhouse to do that.
It's nice he did both.
Omg the twitch chat.
and people complain here about trolls
I have to trust the super-nerd David Seamen, he did a fine job explaining it, and if I were brighter I would recite it back to you. My nerd powers go in a different direction. I'm just happy he's alive, and hope he starts appearing at the window again.
While reading the current bitcoin hash is an incredibly effective timestamp (can't think of a better one really and leads to ideas of that application) it doesn't address the voice mimicking and facial manipulation software that most of the people questioning this think is behind it. Not saying that I believe one way or the other, just that this probably won't silence those who question this. If forced to offer an opinion I would probably say that this whole question of life is a psyop to get people to doubt the authenticity of the releases but that's just an opinion. In the end, it's probably best just to look at the information that's being released and think critically about everything whether he's alive or not.
I agree with you. If it's that important to fake this, that points to a very small set of people who could pull it off. Setting aside the conspiracy theory, if a current movie like Rogue One couldn't completely pull off a Tarkin simulation, what technology did this and why isn't it being monetized?
Baring voice synthesis, the blockchain and sports scores are proof of life. The real anomaly occurs early in the Q&A where Julian refers to events that occurred last year as if it was still 2016. The most alarming is his commenting on Hillery being the presumptive winner of the election. For details and times see my post.