Zero Knowledge Proof

In the context of the DPDP Act, Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is a privacy-enhancing technology that can help organizations verify information while minimizing the exposure of personal data.

Zero Knowledge Proof allows a party to demonstrate that a specific statement is true without sharing the actual information behind that statement. For example, an individual may prove that they meet a certain eligibility requirement without revealing additional personal details.

By reducing the need to share raw personal data, ZKP can support principles such as data minimisation and privacy-by-design approaches. Organizations can explore privacy-enhancing technologies like Zero Knowledge Proof to reduce unnecessary data exposure while enabling secure verification processes.

Although ZKP is not specifically mandated under the DPDP Act, it can support organizations in building stronger privacy practices and reducing risks associated with excessive personal data sharing.

In Practice, Gaps Emerge When:

• Organizations collect more personal data than required for verification.
• Verification processes depend on sharing complete identity information.
• Sensitive data is exposed unnecessarily during authentication.
• Privacy-enhancing technologies are not considered.
• Teams lack visibility into opportunities for data minimisation.

Organizations address these challenges by adopting privacy-enhancing technologies, minimizing data collection, strengthening identity verification processes, and implementing secure data-sharing practices. Within Privy, capabilities such as data minimisation, consent management, data discovery, and privacy workflows help organizations strengthen personal data governance.