Why Netonomy?

The Centralized Web 🕸️

As we usher in the digital age, the face of the internet as we know it is rapidly evolving. Yet, an important aspect that often goes unnoticed is how our digital identities and data are managed online. Think about it, when you power on your device and log onto the internet, you're essentially entering the domain of one of the 'Big Four' - Google, Meta, Apple, or Amazon. Collectively, they represent the four corners of our digital universe, and how they handle data can have enormous implications for individuals and society as a whole.

To better understand this, let's first delve into the concept of 'Digital Identities'. Every interaction we have online, every purchase, every post, every 'like', contributes to forming our digital identities. These identities are dynamic, data-driven profiles that are used to represent us in the virtual world. And as with any form of identity, it should ideally be under our control. But is it?

Unfortunately, in today's digital landscape, the answer is not as comforting as we might like. Our digital identities are largely governed by the corporations that run the platforms we use. Google knows what we search for, Meta knows our social connections, Apple knows our app preferences, and Amazon knows our shopping habits.

In essence, these corporations have substantial control over our digital identities, and they can exert this power in ways that might not always be in our favor. They can choose to limit our digital reach, shadow banning us or even delete our digital identities outright, if our views or actions do not align with their standards or policies.

Furthermore, as data becomes the new 'gold', these corporations possess the most lucrative mines. Our data, collectively the most valuable asset in the world, is the fuel that powers their business models. In the era of artificial intelligence, data is indispensable. It is used to train machine learning models, refine algorithms, personalize services, target advertising, and much more. Our digital interactions feed these corporations a constant stream of data, which they harness to enhance their products and, in turn, their market dominance.

But why should this concern us? For one, data privacy. As the saying goes, "If you're not paying for the product, you are the product." Our digital footprints are being monetized, often without explicit consent or compensation. Second, the risk of data breaches. The more data these corporations amass, the more attractive targets they become for cyberattacks. And third, the threat to free expression. If corporations can control our digital identities, they can essentially control the narrative.

Shaping the Internet of the Future 🔮

We believe the future of the internet will rest upon a shift from the current client-server model to a more decentralized architecture. This decentralization will transform every user into their own server, effectively returning control of their digital identities and data back into their hands.

In this new paradigm, we will become the custodians of our data. It will be us who decide who can access our data, when, and for what purpose. We could also potentially monetize our own data, making companies compensate us for accessing specific information. Additionally, any application we interact with will no longer hoard our data; instead, it will reside with us, the user.

But how do we regain control of our identities? What does 'identity' even mean in this context?

In a nutshell, our digital identity is the sum of all the data that defines and distinguishes us in the digital realm. It's the proof of our existence online, constructed from credentials that attest to who we are. These can be formal credentials, such as a driver's license or a college diploma, or more casual credentials like a certificate from an online course or even the reputation we've built on social platforms.

In the new model of the internet we envision, these credentials will not be scattered across various platforms and institutions. Instead, they will reside with us, securely stored and only shared when we choose to do so.

This radical shift doesn't just put us in the driver's seat when it comes to managing our data; it fundamentally alters the power dynamics of the internet, placing the user at the center of their online world.

Empowering People with Netonomy 🚀

At the heart of this new paradigm, we're building Netonomy, a company focused on enabling users to own their identities and control their data on the internet.

How are we doing this?

Firstly, we're utilizing Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), a new type of identifier that enables verifiable, self-sovereign digital identity. DIDs are fully under the control of the DID subject, independent from any centralized registry, identity provider, or certificate authority. This fundamentally allows people to truly own their identities online.

Secondly, we're incorporating Verifiable Credentials. Once you have a DID, it becomes possible to associate credentials with that identity. These can be anything that attests to the truth of specific claims about an entity, such as a diploma or certificate. Because these credentials are cryptographically secure and privacy-respecting, they can be trusted to a high degree.

To ensure everyone has control over their data, we're integrating decentralized web nodes into our platform. These nodes function as personal servers, enabling individuals to securely store their data. With Netonomy, accessing and managing these web nodes becomes a seamless experience, democratizing data ownership for all. Users, through the use of advanced protocols, can control who sees their information and when, thus retaining complete autonomy over their personal data.

Netonomy seamlessly combines these cutting-edge technologies in a user-friendly application, serving as your personal portal to the decentralized internet. By empowering users to manage their own data and identities, we're not just shifting control from corporations to individuals; we're changing the fundamental dynamics of the online world.

We're building our platform on top of the open-source technology provided by Web5 (you can learn more about their work TBD Web5). Their pioneering efforts in the field of decentralized web technologies align perfectly with our mission and vision.

At Netonomy, we envision a future where everyone has true ownership of their digital identities and data. This isn't just a pipe dream - it's a new reality we're actively shaping. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey and to take part in the creation of a more equitable and user-centric internet.

P.S. Stay tuned to learn about how we are incorporating Bitcoin and AI.