Not Before Time

The practical design NotBeforeTime v2.4 has gone through many iterations and a lot of critical peer review. With assorted working prototypes and a healthy debate among .

The paper explains in mostly non-technical language how:

Not Before Time combines existing technology to give three strong guarantees that particular information:

1. will not be readable before a certain future time
2. was not created before a certain past date and time
3. was not electronically signed before a certain time

These support human rights, democracy and business.

There is also a health aspect addressing the mental stressors explored by many including Dr Mark Rego in his Frontal Fatigue.

The novel features of Not Before Time are:

• Time locking information is the opposite of the modern and stressful trend for all information to be available instantly, everywhere.
• The three guarantees work for ordinary users using their everyday software on their existing devices.
• The mechanism and its novel new applications as easily explained to non-technical people, which is essential for a system to be trusted.

Validation

I have discussed Not Before Time in detail with:

• Well-known crytographers, who concur that all of the techniques involved are understood and can be rapidly and reliably implemented
• Existing maintainers of broadcast technologies, including the global Domain Name System, distributed network time systems, and a Magellen satellite ground station.
• Likely early commercial adopters, including law firms, construction tender companies and auction houses
• Human rights and whistleblower defense representatives