Building S H I E L D S P A C E at ETH Rome: A Journey into Privacy-Preserving Event Management

From Aha Moments to Hackathon Glory

Just survived an epic weekend at ETH Rome hackathon! It was an intense ride filled with late-night coding, caffeinated brainstorming, and unforgettable moments.

Introducing S H I E L D S P A C E: Our Privacy-Preserving Solution

We were thrilled to take home 2nd place in the Privacy Track with our project: S H I E L D S P A C E! 🥈🔒

S H I E L D S P A C E is a secure platform designed for organizing private, confidential events, with a focus on sensitive communities that prioritize privacy, like domestic violence survivors.

Our goal was to create a system where event organizers can host safe, secure gatherings without exposing information about attendees or event details. S H I E L D S P A C E ensures that personal data remains protected, allowing participants to connect and engage without fear of harassment or unwanted exposure.

Check out our video demo and project details here.

The Technology Behind S H I E L D S P A C E

Building S H I E L D S P A C E required leveraging multiple privacy-focused technologies and blockchain tools to ensure the highest level of data protection. Here’s a breakdown of what we used:

🛠️ Tech Stack and Implementation

• iExec: We integrated iExec’s Web3Mail to enable secure communication between event organizers and participants. This allows messages to be sent using Ethereum wallet addresses instead of email addresses, maintaining privacy.
• Secret Network: All event data, including locations, dates, and participant details, is encrypted using Secret Network’s smart contracts. This ensures that only verified users can access the information.
• Bandada: We utilized Bandada Groups to manage event access in a privacy-preserving way. Attendees must prove their group membership without revealing their Ethereum addresses, preventing sybil attacks.
• Aztec’s Noir Circuits: S H I E L D S P A C E’s backend uses Aztec’s Noir circuits for secure identity verification. This means that only necessary information, like gender or eligibility criteria, is shared without exposing full personal details.
• Scaffold-ETH2: We built the foundation of S H I E L D S P A C E using Scaffold-ETH2, which helped us rapidly prototype and deploy our smart contracts.

Key Features of S H I E L D S P A C E

• Private Event Creation: Events are invisible to the public, and only invited users can access event details.
• Secure Verification: Attendees can be invited via their wallet address, and verification is done using ZK-proof techniques to ensure data privacy.
• Harassment Prevention: Secure communication channels and anti-sybil systems are used to keep interactions safe from online harassment.

Recognition and Bounties

We were honored to receive recognition in the Privacy Track, winning several bounties from our amazing partners:

• Aztec Network: For our innovative use of zk-proof circuits to keep data private and secure.
• iExec: For integrating Web3Mail to ensure private communication.
• Secret Network: For using their encryption features to protect sensitive event details.
• Bandada: For utilizing their privacy-preserving group management tools.

We couldn’t have done it without the incredible support and collaboration of our partners: @jensei_ and @ilge_ustun. It was a team effort all the way!

What’s Next?

The hackathon may be over, but our journey in the Web3 space is just beginning. We’re diving right back into the scene with upcoming events at ETH Sofia and the Encode Club London Hackathon.

S H I E L D S P A C E was just the beginning of exploring privacy-first solutions in blockchain, and we’re excited to push the boundaries even further. Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to collaborate on innovative blockchain projects!

Join Us in Making Web3 More Private

We believe that privacy should be at the heart of all blockchain innovations. If you’re passionate about protecting user data and building decentralized applications, let’s connect! Follow our journey on GitHub and check out our projects that are shaping the future of Web3.

Thank you, ETH Rome, for an amazing experience and the opportunity to showcase our project! Here’s to more hackathons, more learning, and more innovative solutions. 🚀