Verifiable Split Learning via zk-SNARKs

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Alaa, Rana, González-Ferreiro, Darío, Beis-Penedo, Carlos, Fernández-Veiga, Manuel, Díaz-Redondo, Rebeca P., Fernández-Vilas, Ana
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Alaa, Rana
González-Ferreiro, Darío
Beis-Penedo, Carlos
Fernández-Veiga, Manuel
Díaz-Redondo, Rebeca P.
Fernández-Vilas, Ana
author_facet Alaa, Rana
González-Ferreiro, Darío
Beis-Penedo, Carlos
Fernández-Veiga, Manuel
Díaz-Redondo, Rebeca P.
Fernández-Vilas, Ana
contents Split learning is an approach to collaborative learning in which a deep neural network is divided into two parts: client-side and server-side at a cut layer. The client side executes its model using its raw input data and sends the intermediate activation to the server side. This configuration architecture is very useful for enabling collaborative training when data or resources are separated between devices. However, split learning lacks the ability to verify the correctness and honesty of the computations that are performed and exchanged between the parties. To this purpose, this paper proposes a verifiable split learning framework that integrates a zk-SNARK proof to ensure correctness and verifiability. The zk-SNARK proof and verification are generated for both sides in forward propagation and backward propagation on the server side, guaranteeing verifiability on both sides. The verifiable split learning architecture is compared to a blockchain-enabled system for the same deep learning network, one that records updates but without generating the zero-knowledge proof. From the comparison, it can be deduced that applying the zk-SNARK test achieves verifiability and correctness, while blockchains are lightweight but unverifiable.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_01356
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Verifiable Split Learning via zk-SNARKs
Alaa, Rana
González-Ferreiro, Darío
Beis-Penedo, Carlos
Fernández-Veiga, Manuel
Díaz-Redondo, Rebeca P.
Fernández-Vilas, Ana
Machine Learning
Split learning is an approach to collaborative learning in which a deep neural network is divided into two parts: client-side and server-side at a cut layer. The client side executes its model using its raw input data and sends the intermediate activation to the server side. This configuration architecture is very useful for enabling collaborative training when data or resources are separated between devices. However, split learning lacks the ability to verify the correctness and honesty of the computations that are performed and exchanged between the parties. To this purpose, this paper proposes a verifiable split learning framework that integrates a zk-SNARK proof to ensure correctness and verifiability. The zk-SNARK proof and verification are generated for both sides in forward propagation and backward propagation on the server side, guaranteeing verifiability on both sides. The verifiable split learning architecture is compared to a blockchain-enabled system for the same deep learning network, one that records updates but without generating the zero-knowledge proof. From the comparison, it can be deduced that applying the zk-SNARK test achieves verifiability and correctness, while blockchains are lightweight but unverifiable.
title Verifiable Split Learning via zk-SNARKs
topic Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.01356