News coverage has long been purported as independent and reliable across most, if not all countries, where the neutral and autonomous perspectives of news media are often emphasized. However, with a surge in fake news given increasing connectivity, state-controlled news channels, a lack of access to varying news sources and restrictions in freedom of speech in different parts of the world, there is still a long way to go before news coverage can be truly independent. In light of this, some blockchain developers have proposed the launch of a decentralized and private news platform built on the ZCash blockchain that will offer accurate and uncensored news to the public for free.
“A secure and peer-driven news hub would encourage citizens across the world to engage in real-time issues that really matter to them, both on a local and on a global level, to challenge agenda setting and news presentation in classical media and to become an active part of public opinion shaping,” the proposal shared on Github reads.
An on-chain news portal called Zboard, authors can remain anonymous when submitting their posts via a sequence of ZCash transactions used to shield addresses. This ensures the safety of writers who could be covering a topic unsanctioned by their governments or employers while providing uncensored information to the public where they remain permanently on the blockchain.
Moreover, Zboard will be utilizing a rewards and donation system. Readers can also donate to writers via ZCash, which would motivate writers to submit high-quality content. There will also be a moderation system to sift out inappropriate content, and a verification trust mechanism for writers submitting their work onto the platform.
While the proposed decentralized news portal seems at a glance to be a safe haven for journalists worldwide and an autonomous library of uncensored news for citizens, it remains to be seen if Zboard will become a reliable news hub. With no mechanism for fact checking, inaccurate or risky investigative journalism is a possibility while other writers could still use the platform to distribute propaganda or unverified, fake information.
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