Privacy Preservation Throughout the Pipeline

Privacy is not a single feature but rather a comprehensive property maintained throughout the entire verification pipeline. Multiple mechanisms work together to ensure that private data remains confidential even as it is verified and used.

Encryption protects data in transit and at rest. All communication between applications, the Swarm Network API, and verification agents uses strong encryption. Evidence submitted for verification is encrypted before transmission and remains encrypted during storage. Only authorized agents receive decryption keys for the specific data they need to verify.

Data minimization ensures that each component receives only the minimum information necessary for its function. Agents verifying atomic claims receive only the data relevant to those specific claims, not the entire evidence set. Proof generation processes operate on verification results rather than raw data. On-chain registration includes only proof hashes, not proofs themselves or underlying data.

Zero-knowledge proofs mathematically enforce privacy by enabling verification without data exposure. The cryptographic properties of these proofs ensure that even if an attacker obtains a proof, they learn nothing beyond the claim’s validity. This mathematical privacy guarantee is stronger than privacy based on access controls or trust assumptions.

Selective disclosure enables claimants to control exactly what information is revealed. Privacy specifications attached to claims define what can and cannot be revealed during and after verification. Proofs are structured to reveal only what privacy specifications allow, enabling fine-grained control over information disclosure.

Decentralization prevents single points of failure that could compromise privacy. No single entity has access to all verification data. Agents operate independently and see only their assigned atomic claims. Even if some agents are compromised, the privacy of the overall system remains intact due to data minimization and encryption.