Web3 Tools Offer New Privacy and Monetization Options Against Data Harvesting
The internet economy has long operated on a simple premise: free services in exchange for personal data. Companies like search engines, social media platforms, and email providers offer their products at no cost while collecting user information to sell to advertisers and data brokers.
This business model has created tech billionaires while leaving users with little control over their own information. These free services have become essential parts of daily life, making them difficult to abandon despite privacy concerns.
Web3 technology is emerging as a potential solution to this data privacy problem. By utilizing decentralized systems, Web3 allows users to maintain ownership of their personal information, effectively putting "locks and doors" on their digital assets.
Companies like iExec are developing tools that leverage Web3 capabilities. Their Data Protector tool creates a layer between users' contact information and those who want to reach them, allowing individuals to control who can access their messaging handles or email addresses.
This approach not only reduces unwanted messages but also enables users to monetize their attention. Rather than receiving free spam, users can choose to allow certain communications in exchange for payment, creating a more balanced relationship between consumers and advertisers.
Major players like HTX DAO are recognizing this shift toward user-controlled data. At Blockchain Forum 2025, HTX representatives discussed how platforms are integrating DeFi functions and improving transparency through proof of reserves, serving the growing demand for both centralized and decentralized financial solutions.
These developments represent early examples of how Web3 might address privacy concerns while creating new income opportunities for users. As awareness grows about data harvesting practices, such tools may become increasingly attractive alternatives to the current "free service" internet model.
