Johannes
Buchmann
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Numbers, Quantum Computers, and the Question of Responsibility
Abstract.
The lecture traces an arc from the history of a seemingly harmless mathematical problem to highly relevant societal questions. The starting point is the factoring problem. Through early mechanical calculating aids and the first successes of electronic computers, it shows how long and persistently this problem has accompanied mathematics - and why it ultimately became a foundation of modern cryptography. These mathematical ideas are no longer abstract today. They secure the internet, our communications, and our privacy. At the same time, we are witnessing that digital platforms and social networks pose significant risks to the mental health of children and adolescents. This gives rise to a societal responsibility: age limits must be enforceable without resorting to pervasive surveillance or large-scale data collection. The lecture shows that cryptographic methods can solve precisely this problem. Finally, the perspective turns to the future: quantum computers threaten the cryptographic procedures in use today. The lecture explains which attacks are realistic, that post-quantum methods are available as alternatives - and why it is a matter of responsibility to manage this transition in good time.