# TACo | Cryptographic Public Good

**TACo** – **T**hreshold **A**ccess/**A**ction **Co**ntrol – is an open source public good; cryptographic infrastructure to undergird a *non-surveilling*, *non-rent-seeking*, *non-exploitative* internet. \
\
TACo offers two primary services, \
(i) Access Control – under what conditions is data decryptable? \
(ii) Action Control – under what conditions is a transaction executable? 

From an app developer's perspective, TACo is a straightforward and affordable *plugin*. Once integrated, TACo can enforce user-authored *policies* over who or what can (i) **access** or (ii) **act on** sensitive data – without single points of failure, data custodians, or centralized authorities.

This is possible thanks to the TACo *network*; an array of independently-controlled nodes each running the TACo client. Apps that have integrated the plugin connect to the network via the `taco-web` API. Groups of TACo nodes respond to user requests by collectively validating (i) sharing or (ii) signing policies. Specifically, nodes individually verify the requestor's fulfillment of pre-specified conditions, before providing the necessary fragment of (i) *decryption material* or (ii) *signature*, enabling the requestor's *access* or *action* respectively. 

Without relying on centralized servers, TACo empowers the application *user* to truly control the conditions under which their data is accessible: by whom, for how long, and contingent on any digital source of truth. 

*For example: share my archive of evidence with journalists if I do not check-in over the next 7 days.* 

### **I'm interested in..**

<table data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="image">Cover image</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Building with TACo</strong></td><td>Integrate TACo into your application and enable low-trust data sharing and automation workflows for your users.</td><td><a href="/pages/9b0qfE08atzo9AEq3888">/pages/9b0qfE08atzo9AEq3888</a></td><td><a href="/files/OBwZMs7bh2UvPRBHFYOD">/files/OBwZMs7bh2UvPRBHFYOD</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Evaluating TACo's utility</strong></td><td>Learn about TACo's unique capabilities, including custom condition logic,  infrastructural flexibility, and low-trust model.</td><td><a href="/pages/bHOw2HttmdLB3jHwP0hg">/pages/bHOw2HttmdLB3jHwP0hg</a></td><td><a href="/files/3REDIHtEpjlgQci6RBbC">/files/3REDIHtEpjlgQci6RBbC</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Running a TACo node</strong></td><td>Support the TACo service and earn compensation by setting up a low-memory, low-cost, low-maintenance node client.</td><td><a href="/pages/Hmkn4V4z8VOUUbWRkdz9">/pages/Hmkn4V4z8VOUUbWRkdz9</a></td><td><a href="/files/aeCCJeTuXA4srBcGKNFR">/files/aeCCJeTuXA4srBcGKNFR</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

### **Get Started Now**

* [**Quickstart Guide →**](/for-developers/get-started-with-tac.md)\
  Your first encrypted data sharing / automated signing flow - up and running in minutes.
* [**Join the Community on Discord →**](http://discord.gg/buildwithtaco)\
  Connect with developers, node operators, and the TACo team.
* [**View TACo on GitHub →**](https://github.com/nucypher/taco-web)\
  Explore the codebase, contribute, or file issues.


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