As the World Wide Web (WWW) turns 35, inventor Tim Berners-Lee predicts decentralization, data ownership, and human-centric evolution.
His predictions emphasize the need to reform the current web system to one that genuinely serves the best interests of humanity, focusing on collaboration, creativity, and compassion. The web was originally intended to empower humanity through collaboration, compassion, and creativity, says Berners-Lee, but, in recent years, it has been dominated by a few corporations, leading to centralization, erosion of values, and harm.
Tim Berners-Lee’s main observations are:
- Initial Promise and Current State: The domination of a few corporations leads to centralization and harmful consequences.
- Issues with Power Concentration and Data Exploitation: The concentration of power among a few platforms has led to a segmented web, where users are kept hooked for profit. The personal data market has exploited people’s data and time, leading to targeted advertising and control over information.
- Causes of Current State: Lack of diversity in leadership has led to the web being driven by capitalist forces, resulting in monopolization. Governance has failed to correct this, with regulatory measures lagging behind technological advancements.
His predictions and suggestions for the future include:
- Future Solutions: To reform the current system, we need to break down data silos, encourage collaboration, and create market conditions that foster creativity. The focus should shift from polarizing content to an environment with diverse voices and perspectives that nurture empathy and understanding.
- Emerging Paradigm: A novel paradigm is needed, prioritizing individuals’ intentions over sheer attention in business models. This movement seeks to create a more human-centered web aligned with the original vision of empowering humanity.
- Solid Protocol and Data Ownership: The Solid Protocol aims to provide individuals with their own “personal online data store” (POD), allowing them to decide how their data is managed, used, and shared. This approach is the future of data ownership and control.
To sum up Berners-Lee calls for action: There is an urgent need for support for those leading the reform, from researchers to advocates. The Web Foundation, co-founded by Tim Berners-Lee, supports and accelerates this emergent system. Others are called upon to back morally courageous leadership and overturn the profit-driven online world.
CNBC discussion with web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, CTO & Co-Founder at Inrupt and Inrupt CEO John Bruce share their ideas for its future.