Awarded the 10th Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Information and Communication Technologies, Shafi Goldwasser discusses in this interview how modern cryptography has become an essential pillar for protecting digital identity and privacy in a hyperconnected world. Drawing on her fundamental contributions—including the introduction of zero-knowledge proofs—she explains how cryptographic methods allow for the verification of information without revealing sensitive data, strengthening security in transactions, communications, and distributed systems. Goldwasser also reflects on the emerging challenges linked to artificial intelligence and quantum computing, emphasizing the need to move towards more robust cryptography adapted to future threats.
The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Information and Communication Technologies category goes, in this tenth edition, to Shafi
Awarded the 10th Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Information and Communication Technologies, Shafi Goldwasser discusses in this interview how modern cryptography has become an essential pillar for protecting digital identity and privacy in a hyperconnected world. Drawing on her fundamental contributions—including the introduction of zero-knowledge proofs—she explains how cryptographic methods allow for the verification of information without revealing sensitive data, strengthening security in transactions, communications, and distributed systems. Goldwasser also reflects on the emerging challenges linked to artificial intelligence and quantum computing, emphasizing the need to move towards more robust cryptography adapted to future threats.
The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Information and Communication Technologies category goes, in this tenth edition, to Shafi Goldwasser, Silvio Micali, Ronald Rivest and Adi Shamir for their “fundamental contributions to modern cryptology, an area of a tremendous impact on our everyday life,” in the words of the jury’s citation. “Their advanced crypto-protocols enable the safe and secure transmission of electronic data, ranging from e-mail to financial transactions. In addition, their work provides the underpinning for digital signatures, blockchains and crypto-currencies,” like Bitcoin.
00:00 Introduction
00:05 Could you explain which types of activities in our everyday lives as Internet users have been protected by your innovations in the field of cryptography?
01:15 What are the greatest vulnerabilities and dangers facing Internet users today? To what extent can cryptographic technologies protect users against such threats?
02:21 Can cryptography help maintain a balance between the need to protect Internet users’ privacy and the need to protect society from terrorism and other forms of crime?
