By Pritish Beesooa – Head of Blockchain & Web3 Development
If truth be told, most of us scroll through life with our phones glued to our hands, chatting, swiping, clicking, searching, posting, and streaming. In return, we’re offered the grand illusion of free content, free apps, and free everything. The World’s your Oyster, so to speak. Let’s face it, in a society where most of us are in debt, anything free grabs our immediate and undisturbed attention. But nothing is truly free. Instead, we’re paying with something far more personal and far more costly: our Data.
Every click, every like, and every rushed “yes” to a cookie popup we barely glance at is part of this invisible transaction. Our digital footprints — from our location to our browsing habits and even how long we linger over a photo — are quietly collected, analysed, and sold. This isn’t just the hidden cost of modern convenience; it’s an efficient, brutal system that operates without our proper, informed consent, hiding behind our flaws in our online behaviour. Even Marlowe’s Faustus recognised he was bargaining with the devil before he consented. We live in an age where privacy has become a valuable currency and a precious commodity. And here’s the burning question: Who gave them the right to take it?
The Cookie Crumbs We Didn’t Mean to Drop
Cookies — no, not the delicious kind — are those tiny data files that sneak onto your device whenever you browse a website. Sites slap you with the “This site uses cookies to enhance your experience” mes
sage. Sounds harmless, right? But what it really means is “We’re going to track everything you do online and sell that info to advertisers — enjoy!”
In true Orwellian fashion (Big Brother 1984) these seemingly innocuous cookies monitor your online actions — what you browse, click on, and even what you consider purchasing. While they can help improve your online experience, they’re mostly used to craft psychological profiles for companies to exploit. And let’s be real, did you knowingly agree to this? Probably not — at least, not in a way you fully grasped. Ever clicked “Accept” on a cookie banner just to make it go away? Of course, you have. We all have. In that brief moment, you’ve handed over a piece of your digital identity to be monetised, categorised, and sold — effectively becoming a product yourself.
So why aren’t you being paid for your data?
That’s the new frontier Web3 is starting to explore: a digital ecosystem where you control your data — and even earn from it. An even playing field where everybody is a winner.
Privacy Is the New Luxury
Let’s face it: Privacy online is becoming a premium service. But it shouldn’t be. With the rise of blockchain and Web3 technologies, a shift is underway toward decentralisation, self-sovereign identity, and data ownership.
Unlike traditional apps and platforms that hoard your information in central servers, blockchain-based systems can give control back to individuals. Imagine this: every time a company wants to use your data, they ask you first, and even offer you a monetary reward. That’s not a fantasy — that’s a working concept already being tested.
Think of privacy not as something you lose online, but something you can own again. A unique fuel that you create and sell.
KYC, AML, and the Paradox of Identity
But privacy in Web3 isn’t without its paradoxes.
In the world of cryptocurrencies, governments and regulators have pushed hard for KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) procedures. These systems are designed to prevent crime and protect the financial system. But they also require users to upload documents, biometrics, and personal information — ironically, on platforms that originally promised anonymity and decentralisation.
The challenge for the Web3 industry is balancing privacy with trust. Enter Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) — cryptographic tools that allow you to prove your identity or credentials without revealing any of your actual data. It’s like showing a nightclub bouncer you’re over 18 without revealing your birthdate, address, or government ID.
These are the kinds of innovations redefining what identity and privacy mean in a post-social-media world.
The Takeaway: We’re Not Helpless
If the last decade was about giving away our data for likes, convenience, and custom playlists — the next decade is about taking it back. Blockchain and Web3 aren’t just buzzwords; they’re building blocks for a more ethical internet — one where privacy isn’t a loophole or a luxury, but a default.
So next time you click “Accept All,” pause and ask:
Who gave them the right?
And maybe next time, you’ll have a better answer — or a better alternative.
And maybe next time, you’ll have a better answer — or a better alternative.
