Georgia’s leading opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), has introduced a groundbreaking digital solution, United Space, an identity app developed using Rarimo’s Zero-Knowledge (ZK) social protocol. The app aims to integrate national identification cards onto a blockchain, potentially transforming how Georgian citizens engage with electoral and governance systems. With its launch just ahead of Georgia’s parliamentary elections on October 26th, the timing of this new tool is critical, given rising concerns over the country’s democratic integrity and foreign interference.
United Space seeks to address these issues by offering a surveillance-free, tamper-proof voting mechanism. The app allows citizens to participate in elections anonymously, ensuring their privacy is protected and reducing the risk of voter manipulation. This innovative approach represents a significant departure from traditional voting methods, reinforcing security and transparency in the electoral process.
Voter Engagement and Future Expansion of Services
To combat Georgia’s historically low voter turnout, the United Space app includes a voter reward system aimed at encouraging higher civic participation. Citizens, regardless of their political affiliations, will be incentivized not only for casting their votes but also for their general involvement in civic activities. This strategy is designed to engage a wider portion of the electorate, providing tangible rewards for taking part in democratic processes.
UNM has also outlined its broader vision for United Space, indicating that, if elected, the party plans to expand the app’s capabilities beyond voting. One of the primary goals is to digitize Georgia’s Public Service Hall (PSH), a government institution responsible for services such as car registrations, business licenses, and notary appointments. Currently, these services require in-person visits, but the app aims to shift these functions online, making them more accessible to the public.
Additionally, the opposition party sees the digitized PSH as a potential platform for piloting Universal Basic Income (UBI). This initiative would involve redistributing revenues generated from the newly digitized services directly back to Georgian citizens. If implemented, this UBI experiment could offer financial support to many in the country, potentially reshaping Georgia’s economic landscape.
Introducing Liquid Democracy and Enhanced Civic Engagement
United Space is also designed to promote ongoing civic engagement through a concept known as liquid democracy. Under this model, citizens would not only vote during major elections but would also have the opportunity to weigh in on legislative matters in real-time. This system could create a continuous feedback loop between the government and the populace, increasing transparency and giving citizens a greater role in decision-making. This ambitious plan could redefine civic participation, making it more dynamic and accessible.
The introduction of the United Space app comes at a pivotal moment for Georgia, which has been facing challenges related to democratic backsliding and fears of Russian interference. In this context, United Space is positioned as a tool to reinforce the country’s democratic framework by providing a secure and transparent platform for citizens to engage in governance.
The Technology Behind United Space
At the heart of the app is Rarimo’s Zero-Knowledge proof-of-citizenship technology, which allows individuals to issue their own digital identities. Unlike traditional blockchain-based systems that rely on third-party issuers, this system enables users to encrypt their national ID information and publish it to a blockchain-based registry. This process ensures that no outside entity, including the government, can track or identify individual actions. The only data that can be verified is that the ID exists on the blockchain, providing an unprecedented level of anonymity and privacy.
This advanced level of privacy is particularly significant given the current political climate in Georgia. By allowing citizens to remain completely anonymous while participating in elections or other civic processes, United Space offers a solution that directly addresses concerns over potential government surveillance and voter manipulation.
Setting a New Standard for Digital Democracy
As Georgia approaches its parliamentary elections, the United Space app could set a new precedent for how blockchain technology can be used to enhance democratic participation. The app’s combination of decentralized identity verification, privacy protection, and the introduction of liquid democracy presents a new model for governance that could extend beyond Georgia’s borders.
This experiment with blockchain-based democracy may have far-reaching implications, offering a glimpse into the future of governance in the digital age. By promoting transparency, security, and continuous civic engagement, United Space could serve as an example for other nations looking to modernize their own democratic systems through innovative technology. As such, Georgia’s move towards blockchain-based governance could mark a turning point, not just for the country but for global democratic practices.
