Ethereal 003 — Research

Privacy for whom?

Two rights sit in tension. Ethereal 003 examines whether both can be designed at once.

Research prototype

The right to fade

Private, intimate, embarrassing or context-specific communication should not automatically become a permanent searchable record.

Someone receiving threats, coercion, harassment or abuse may need to retain reliable evidence.

A system that guarantees disappearance may protect the sender more than the recipient.

Can temporary communication protect intimacy without creating impunity?

Each mechanism below could contribute something. None of them, where supported, produces a guarantee. Testing is required before any claim is made.

Potential and limits of each communication control mechanism
Mechanism	Potential	Limit
End-to-end encryption	Keeps message content between authorised endpoints.	Does not control what a recipient does after viewing.
Timed deletion	Removes copies controlled by the application.	Cannot guarantee removal from screenshots, exports, other cameras or memory.
Screenshot blocking	Some native platforms allow stronger restrictions.	Not universal across platforms, browsers or external devices.
Forwarding restrictions	Prevents forwarding within the originating application.	Cannot stop manual reproduction.
Watermarking	Deters or identifies some captured copies.	Does not prevent capture and may intimidate recipients.
Connection consent	Controls who may initiate communication and for how long.	Identity abuse and repeated attempts still require protection.
Safety preservation	Gives recipients control of selected evidence.	Conflicts with an absolute disappearance promise.

Device A

Protected conversation

Please don't share this.

Scheduled to fade

Device B

External camera pointed at Device A.

No photograph taken.

No application controls another camera.

Therefore, Ethereal 003 does not pursue the impossible promise that information can never be captured. It investigates: