Blinded Gift Information Server for Blocked Sender Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Messenger services fail to effectively prevent unwanted gift information from being exposed to users who have blocked the sender, leading to potential stalking and harassment, as the blocking function is not applied to gift messages.
Innovation Solution
A method where a server provides blinded gift information to users when the sender is blocked, allowing users to unblind or delete the information within a specified period, giving them control over whether to view or accept the gift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If gift information is fully displayed to users, then users can make informed decisions about receiving gifts, but blocked senders can still expose unwanted information to users
Solution Approach 1:
The gift information is segmented into visible and hidden portions. When a sender is blocked, the system displays only partial gift information (e.g., gift type, value) while hiding identifying information about the sender. This segmentation allows users to see enough information to make informed decisions without being exposed to unwanted sender information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism (blinding/unblinding function) between the gift information and the user. This intermediary controls the flow of information by default hiding sender details but allowing users to selectively reveal them through unblinding, thus mediating between complete information disclosure and privacy protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If gift information is blinded to protect user privacy, then unwanted information from blocked senders is hidden, but users lose the ability to view complete gift information
Solution Approach 1:
The information display state is made dynamic rather than static. The system automatically blinds gift information from blocked senders, but users can dynamically change the state by triggering unblinding operations. This dynamic approach adapts the information visibility to user needs while maintaining default privacy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to users about the blinding state and allows users to interact with the system to unblind information. The feedback mechanism informs users that information is hidden and provides control interfaces to reveal it, ensuring users maintain operational control over their information exposure.
3Reliability
If complete gift information is always visible, then users can fully assess gifts before acceptance, but the blocking function becomes ineffective against harassment
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by automatically blinding gift information from blocked senders before the user views it. This pre-emptive measure prevents unwanted information from reaching the user in the first place, making the blocking function effective while still allowing users to unblind information if they choose to assess the gift further.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing gift information by a server is proposed. The method may include receiving from a second user a gift provision request for sending a gift to a first user, and generating gift information in response to the gift provision request. The method may also include determining whether the second user is a blocked friend set by the first. The method may further include in response to determining that the second user is the blocked friend, providing the first user with blinded gift information corresponding to the gift information, wherein partial information out of the gift information is not shown in the blinded gift information. The method may further include in response to receiving an unblind request for the blinded gift information from the first user, providing the first user with the partial information out of the gift information.