A music-focused radio station in Berlin, Germany, called CarnationFM has recently emerged from EthBerlin 2024. This innovative project was developed by a team of five hackers and a mentor with a focus on enabling songs to carry hidden messages as a means of secure and private communication.
CarnationFM was designed as a defensive, decentralized, and encrypted communication tool that prioritizes privacy and anonymity. It won the award for the Best Social Impact at EthBerlin 2024 and aims to address the importance of privacy in the wake of recent events, such as the sentencing of Alexey Perstev.
Alexey Perstev, a co-founder of Tornado Cash, was sentenced to 64 months in prison after the Tornado Cash mixer was used by North Korea’s Lazarus group for money laundering. This verdict raised concerns within the decentralized community about the legal implications for developers whose code is used for illicit activities.
The name “CarnationFM” is inspired by the historical Carnation Revolution that took place in Portugal 50 years ago, leading to the end of Europe’s longest-lasting dictatorship. The revolution began with a military coup that quickly transformed into a popular uprising, symbolized by civilians placing carnations in the muzzles of guns and on soldiers’ uniforms.
The radio station’s decentralized nature is facilitated by Swarm, a decentralized data storage solution on the Ethereum blockchain. Listeners can access the music broadcasts, but only those with the corresponding public key can decrypt the hidden messages embedded in the songs.
The creators of CarnationFM are exploring ways to enhance the project, including researching encryption methods for sound waves to convey more information analogically. They are also considering applying similar techniques to videos on platforms like YouTube or television broadcasts.
Next Steps for CarnationFM
- Continuing research on sound wave encryption for increased data transmission.
- Exploring applications of the technology in video content distribution.
- Seeking support and resources to further develop and scale the project.
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