The Pentagon’s research arm is looking to build its own encrypted messaging application to rival those currently offered by the private sector, and if successful, it may commercialize the technology for consumers.
In a request for proposals, the department’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency asked for submissions from contractors aimed at creating “a secure messaging and transaction platform” capable of allowing “anyone anywhere the ability to send a secure message or conduct other transactions across multiple channels.”
“The DoD requires a secure messaging system that can provide repudiation or deniability, perfect forward and backward secrecy, time to live/self delete for messages, one time eyes only messages, a decentralized infrastructure to be resilient to cyberattacks and ease of use for individuals in less than ideal situations,” DARPA explained.
The platform effectively amounts to a form of end-to-end encryption with more customizable settings than anything currently on the market. Facebook’s WhatsApp and Apple’s iMessage are generally viewed as the most cutting-edge options for end-to-end encryption currently available.
Additionally, the RFP states, DARPA is looking for “blockchain implementation of message deconstruction and reconstruction.” That technology allows for the transference of digital currency between users.
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“Troops on the ground in denied communications environments would have a way to securely communicate back to HQ, and DoD back office executives could rest assured that their logistics system is efficient, timely and safe from hackers,” DARPA said.
If the effort is successful, according to the proposal, DARPA intends to “focus on commercialization and full-scale implementation of the platform.”
