Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web, and Rosemary Leith, co-founder of the World Wide Web Foundation, have announced that the organization will be shutting down after 15 years. In a letter posted on the Foundation’s site, they shared their decision to close the nonprofit in order to focus on new challenges surrounding the internet’s evolution, particularly those related to privacy and data ownership.
The Foundation, which was established in 2009, was originally founded to promote accessibility and affordability of the internet. At that time, only about 20% of the global population was online. Today, the figure has risen dramatically, with close to 70% of the world connected. Given the presence of other groups tackling similar issues, Tim Berners-Lee and Rosemary Leith believe their foundation has fulfilled its original mission and can now step back.
Moving Beyond Web Access: Confronting the New Internet Issues
The internet is no longer simply about connecting people. Berners-Lee has long warned of the risks posed by centralized platforms that harvest vast amounts of personal data, a reality that has become a defining feature of the modern web. He now believes these corporations hold too much power, turning personal information into a commodity and exploiting users for profit. This, according to Berners-Lee, is a complete reversal of the open, decentralized vision that the web was built on.
In response, Berners-Lee is refocusing his efforts on decentralized technologies like the Solid Protocol. Solid aims to give people full control over their own data through a system of personal online data stores (Pods). These Pods allow users to manage their data independently, deciding who can access what, and on what terms, moving away from the all-encompassing control that social platforms currently exercise over personal information.
The decentralized web (often referred to as Web3) is a vision for a new internet where data and applications are not controlled by a single entity, but rather distributed across a network of computers. The shift aims to create a more open, secure, and censorship-resistant internet.
How Solid Protocol Changes the Game
Solid isn’t just about privacy—it’s about changing the balance of power between users and the tech companies that currently dominate the internet. With Pods, individuals can store their social data, files, and activity logs in a secure, decentralized system that gives them full ownership over their information. The model allows users to grant apps and services access to specific data, but only under their terms.
In an open letter commemorating the 35th anniversary of the World Wide Web, Berners-Lee stressed the need for a new web architecture. He criticized the current model, in which major platforms profit from the constant tracking of users’ habits, turning their personal data into the backbone of targeted advertising and content algorithms. This, he argues, not only invades privacy but also undermines democracy, with platforms able to manipulate what users see and interact with.
World Wide Web Foundation’s 15-Year Journey
Over its 15 years, the Foundation has collaborated with NGOs, governments, and the private sector, helping millions of people connect to the web. Despite these successes, Berners-Lee and Leith have concluded that the current web environment requires a different kind of advocacy, one focused on reclaiming control of personal data rather than merely providing access to it.
The Foundation reported $4.08 million in revenue for the 2022 fiscal year, with expenses reaching $4.97 million. Financial factors aside, the closure of the organization is primarily driven by a shift in focus, as Berners-Lee and Leith set their sights on emerging issues related to the future of data and the internet.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:40 pm CET