Rebuild: Trust, Technology, and the Future of Governance
Transforming digital identity into a tool for individual freedom. Maker of Freedomtool.org and Unforgettable.app
Max SemenchukAs Ukraine will begin its reconstruction, the question is not only what to rebuild, but how to ensure sustainability, inclusion, and trust. I’ll argue that the next frontier of reform lies in digital governance systems that let citizens participate directly, audibly, and privately through neutral, auditable technologies like blockchains.
Key Ideas:
- Hidden rebuild problem: Gap between government-led change and citizen internalization - unsustainable reforms when citizens can't participate
- Trust as foundation: Requires credibly neutral systems no one controls - blockchain/DLT enables shared infrastructure maintained by all sides
- Current division: Echo chambers prevent agreement on shared principles - resolution shouldn't depend on who controls narrative
- Participation requirements: Must be self-enforceable (not just petitions) - digital vetos, priority measurement, recall mechanisms with constitutional thresholds
- Early signal detection: Enables course correction before polarization - reduces friction by allowing reversibility
- Technical enablers: Digital identity (passports/national IDs) + blockchain consensus = scalable participation
- Freedom Tool platform: NFC passport tap → privacy-preserving verification (on-device processing) → participation in governance/voting/protests
- Minimal viable democracy: Don't need 100% participation - just enough, with experts on specific issues leading
- Cost efficiency: $0.003 per vote on standard blockchains vs $9-10 traditional polling
- Trials: Russia (opposition), Georgia, Iran activists - alternative participation systems where state infrastructure untrusted
- Ukraine relevance: Credibly neutral infrastructure for sustainable reforms, citizen checks and balances
Lasha brings a transformative perspective on how digital identity can become a tool for individual freedom rather than control. His work addresses one of the most pressing questions facing Ukraine and nations worldwide: how can technology empower citizens while protecting their privacy and autonomy? Through Freedomtool.org and Unforgettable.app, he's pioneering practical solutions that put digital sovereignty directly in the hands of individuals.
His talk, "Rebuild: Trust, Technology, and the Future of Governance," tackles Ukraine's reconstruction from a unique angle. As the country begins rebuilding, Lasha argues that the focus shouldn't just be on physical infrastructure, but on creating digital governance systems that ensure sustainability, inclusion, and trust. He'll explore how neutral, auditable technologies like blockchains can enable citizens to participate directly in governance while maintaining their privacy—a vision particularly relevant for Ukraine's democratic future.
Join us to hear from someone reimagining the relationship between citizens, technology, and governance in the context of Ukraine's rebirth.