Explore Web 3.0, the blockchain-powered decentralized internet that gives consumers unprecedented data and identity control. Transparency and user empowerment make the internet safer and fairer.
By placing users in control of their own data and identities, Web 3.0, or Web3 if you prefer, refers to a new web paradigm that aims to make the internet more safe and fair. Web 3.0 promises to provide each and every one of us unparalleled levels of control and transparency over how our data is utilized. According to proponents of Web 3.0, this transformation is accomplished by a completely “decentralized” internet built on blockchain. This is obviously different from all of the web constructs that are already in use.
But to expect everyone to throw away what they now have and start over is unreasonable. After all, what we currently have is competent in a variety of areas. Instead of changing the paradigm, we must do so. In order to allow the features promised by Web 3.0, including security, privacy, consent, user-centricity, interoperability, and more, we need an evolution of the web as it is today rather than a revolution.
The promise of Web 3.0 is lacking something as it stands right now, specifically the natural next step toward a better online. The creator of the web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has offered this obvious next step.
A realistic move in the direction of a better internet
It helps to think about what consumers genuinely want from the web’s third major evolution in order to separate the promise of Web 3.0 from the specifics of blockchain implementation.
Many of us desire access to our data, a range of options, and some degree of acceptable control. We must be able to control who has access to our data, understand how it is being used, and withdraw our consent if we feel uncomfortable disclosing particular data. We want our data to be used for our benefit, which is perhaps most crucial.
In some situations, blockchain can assist with these objectives. The ownership and historical integrity of data can be easier to manage and access since blockchain is a protocol for reading and writing data in a decentralized and immutable way. As a result, some use cases in finance, supply chains, and chain of custody are ideal candidates for blockchain.
But for Web 3.0 solutions to provide visibility, choice, and control over data, there are many more technical requirements. To construct fast and flexible Web 3.0 apps, we need identity, data management, application interoperability, access control, and authorization solutions.
Fortunately, developing web standards and technologies, such as those contained in Solid, Berners-Lee’s new system for organizing data, applications, and identities on the web, already provide solutions to these concerns. Let’s take a deeper look at these specifications and the characteristics of full solutions.
Identity and access control are required for Web 3.0.
Visibility, transparency, and permission over their data are what the majority of people need and want. Individuals need assurances, in particular, regarding the secrecy of communications with institutions, partners, and other trusted persons. For instance, my doctor and I only share my medical records with each other. My bank, my accountant, and I are the only parties with access to my finances. We need a strong and clear access control mechanism to guarantee confidentiality whenever more than one party needs access to data; we don’t need a public record of who owns each data item.
These flexible data links require non-vendor or application-specific online identities. Decentralized IDs and web identifiers are attractive solutions in this industry, but they need to be refined and integrated with the web stack. End-to-end solutions need fine-grained access controls. Web standards for user data privacy are emerging. These standards are used in Berners-Lee’s Solid technology, which uses online datastores (Solid Pods) to provide an end-to-end solution for web identities, applications, and data.
How would this appear in a Web 3.0 environment? When you install a new app, it may request access to your contacts, photos, and location. You may allow or refuse access to such apps and services at any time by updating your privacy settings. Web 3.0 would apply this user experience to all of your online data, including financial and medical records, surfing patterns, and online purchases.
Applications for Web 3.0 must be interoperable
Data fragmentation characterizes the modern internet. Data from every web user is dispersed throughout numerous organizations, each with its own silo. Almost every business in the world tries to obtain a true, constantly updated 360-degree image of its clients. To prevent data duplication, staleness, and degradation, businesses combine many systems and data warehouses.
Due to this endeavor, only a few organizations have the resources to stand out, resulting in a convoluted infrastructure that is a compliance and liability nightmare. This suggests that data collection, not service quality, defines success.
By building on widely embraced online standards to assure interoperability at an application and protocol level, new web technologies like Solid address this issue. By constructing on these standards, lock-in for users and businesses is avoided.
Application interoperability is required for businesses and users to collaborate effectively online. An interoperable data standard provides a single source of truth, lowering operational costs and streamlining infrastructure for enterprises. Each person may manage and update their data within the framework, assuring accuracy and currency. By providing transparency into who has access to which data and how it is utilized, such a system respects data privacy and complies with current privacy laws.
Web 3.0 must be made available
Data distribution is possible with web-native technologies like Solid. Personal data is related to the person it depicts and system-interoperable regardless of where it is stored. Most data classes allow access revocation, while some require access for compliance and governance.
Web 3 advocates like decentralization. Governance and compliance firms may struggle with physically decentralized storage requirements. Organizations will struggle to implement blockchain (or any decentralized storage system) if regulatory compliance demands particular procedures to secure certain classes of server data.
Moreover most people don’t want to handle their own data, which complete decentralization requires. Given the complexity of today’s data ecosystems, most people lack the ability and skills to do this safely. Full self-governance puts end users and their data at risk, undermining Web 3.0 and GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI.
Blockchain technology is remarkable and versatile. It lacks the end-to-end features needed to be the web’s future foundation. Web 3.0 requires solid technology and standards that enable interoperability and fine-grained access control in a distributed and compliant system. Data visibility, openness, and consent build trust.
Firms should use this new infrastructure to share critical data across services and companies to improve the web. Governance and data flow between internal systems, external partners, and users will be possible. An architecture that synchronizes consent-based data between users and organizations would eliminate data silos and their infinite integrations and operational workarounds for businesses and governments. Finally solid is pushing to empower Web 3.0.
