Delete data

The process for securely and verifiably deleting data from Encrypted Data Vaults (EDVs) involves the use of Delete Markers:

1. Generation of Delete Transaction: The data owner or issuer ($DO$) constructs a Delete Transaction ($DT$) to request the deletion of specific data ($D$) from an EDV.

2. Validation by Validator Pool: The Delete Transaction is submitted to an Anchor Node ($AN$), which forwards it to the Validator Pool ($VP$) for authorization checks and dependency assessments.

3. Consensus and Approval: Upon successful validation, $VP$ reaches consensus on the legitimacy and feasibility of the deletion request, and a consensus record ($CR$) is appended to the ledger.

4. Communication to EDVs for Deletion: $AN$ communicates the approved deletion request to all relevant EDVs, which execute the deletion process to irrecoverably erase $D$ from storage.

5. Generation and Submission of DELETE_MARKER: Following the deletion of $D$, a DELETE_MARKER ($DM$) is generated, including transaction details and an updated Merkle root, and recorded in the ledger.

6. Compensation and Settlements: Any pending compensations or settlements are resolved, ensuring all parties involved are duly compensated before finalizing the deletion process.

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GDPR Compliance

The protocol maintains GDPR compliance through:

• Clear and auditable records of data and file actions
• Proof-of-storage mechanisms to maintain data integrity and availability
• Erasure coding for data redundancy and reliability
• Respecting the right to be forgotten by allowing data deletion by the data issuer or owner
• Blockchain-based record-keeping for transparency and auditability