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\chaptertitle{Introduction}
\label{chapter-intro}
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% Passionate statement about democracy and academic freedom
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% We live in times of rising fascist and authoritarian sentiment worldwide. While computer science and cryptography are
% often portrayed as politically neutral technologies, their practice is a political act and can have grave real-world
% consequences.
% maybe: Within mathematics and computer science, the field of cryptography is unique in that it smainstream views
% link to cypherpunks, hackers
% Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) are an example of such a political technology. The core function of HSMs is to
% protect cryptographic secrets against \emph{any} physical attack. Even though they are widely used in finance and
% business applications, in their design, they curiously embody the radical idiology of the cypherpunk and hacker
% movements.
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% We believe physically secure devices like HSMs can be a keystone technology in the creation of secure systems for
% communication and computation in a free, democratic society. However, while current state-of-the art commercial
% devices can be expected to resist a fascist police force or even some authoritarian states' secret services, their
% physical security is still lacking due to misaligned ecosystem incentices. As Anderson put it,
% todo cite: betrusted
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% Meanwhile in academia,
% In this thesis, we aim to significantly advance the field of hardware security module construction. We publish all
% designs, code and data as open source to create the groundwork for future research, and sow the seeds for a new
% generation of secure hardware that will be able to resist a rising tide of fascist and authoritarian movements.
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\emph{No Gods, No Masters} is an anarchist slogan originating in the 19\textsuperscript{th} century that expresses a
rejection of authorities~\cite{broussaisOriginesDeviseAnarchiste2022,guerinNoGodsNo2005,blomNoGodsNo2025}. In modern
cryptography, it is generally seen as best practice to have the least amount of parties possible involved in any
computation.
Most cryptographic problems are easily solved by involving a trusted third party (TTP).
Yet, cryptographers have time and again vocally rejected attempts to involve third parties in cryptographic
protocols~\cite{
rejection of authorities~\cite{broussaisOriginesDeviseAnarchiste2022,guerinNoGodsNo2005,blomNoGodsNo2025}. Despite its
origin in a different era, it encapsulates an approach that is commonly followed in modern cryptography. In
cryptography, it is considered best practice to have the least amount of parties possible involved in any computation.
Most cryptographic problems are easily solved by involving a trusted third party (TTP). Yet, cryptographers have time
and again vocally rejected attempts to involve third parties in cryptographic protocols~\cite{
abelsonRisksKeyRecovery1997,
abelsonKeysDoormats2015,
andersonSecurityEngineeringGuide2020,