Top Republican Touts Blockchain Privacy as Alternative to Regulating Big Tech

With regulators not "Nimble" enough to adapt to the fast changing world of technology, those concerned about maintaining their online privacy should consider turning to decentralized technology, according to a leading Republican politician.

In an op-ed in the New York Times on Sunday, U.S. House of Representatives minority leader Kevin McCarthy argued that it's clear governments and regulators are not able to effectively protect citizens' from platforms like Facebook and Google "Exploiting and selling our data."

There are already in place laws punishing those that read others' post or healthcare records, he said, So why should online privacy be treated differently?

Neither should we expect government to "Singularly and effectively do the job for us."

Seemingly simple "Brute" solutions like breaking up tech giants into smaller entities, as some politicians have proposed, may not actually end up increasing data security, he said.

"Invasive" regulation may effectively protect the bigger incumbents, while shutting out smaller firms.

Instead, the minority leader argued that a solution may lie in the free market, and decentralized "Cryptonetworks."

With most current web platforms, user data is controlled by the platform and users are opened up to "Privacy invasions," McCarthy said.

Whereas with a decentralized network, user data is encrypted on blockchains, enabling users to control access to their information and removing the need to trust third parties.

According to McCarthy, blockchain technology is "Capable of delivering stronger data security, portability and privacy for every user."