Multilaterally Secure Communication Anonymity in Decentralized Social Networking

Network anonymization solutions were mostly designed with a single-user usage model in mind. Indeed, the usage of such solutions in collaboration scenarios, as this is the case for social networking, could lead to network as well as application level link ability (i.e. re-identification of the end-users in these networks). Furthermore, the usage of network anonymization is not applicable in some business settings. In this paper, we present a continuation of previous work that solved network anonymity for collaborative scenarios by avoiding potential link ability. By considering end-users' and business' needs, we present a multilaterally secure solution for providing communication anonymity in social networking. The proposed solution leverages both, network anonymity solutions as well as anonymous credential systems to fulfill intended social interaction goals within the EU FP7 di.me project, offering nodes in a decentralized network and connecting with distinct identities to other users or external services.