Advances and impact of secure function evaluation
Vladimir Kolesnikov · Bell Labs Technical Journal · 2009
Secure function evaluation (SFE) is an area of cryptography concerned with the design of algorithms that allow mutually distrustful partners to evaluate desired functions on their inputs, while maximally preserving input privacy. With faster computers and networks, and continuous algorithm improvements, SFE has become within reach of practicality. The first large-scale industrial application of SFE—the result of over 20 years of relevant research—has been successfully completed in Denmark, where SFE was used to run a country-wide secure sugar beets auction. In this paper, we will provide a brief overview of SFE, the problem it solves, and its uses. We will describe several recent research advancements and argue that SFE is “the next big thing.”