Data Integrity: The Foundation of Web 3.0 and Trusted AI
In the new age of AI, examining how we manage user data—and protect it—has become essential. In a recent article in Communications of the ACM, Inrupt’s Chief of Security Architecture Bruce Schneier and VP of Trust and Digital Ethics Davi Ottenheimer examine why data integrity is the critical concept for safe Web 3.0 and AI systems.
The Evolution of Web Security
As the web has evolved, so have our security priorities. Web 1.0 focused on availability—making information accessible online. Web 2.0 shifted that focus to confidentiality—protecting user data in interactive platforms. Now, as we enter Web 3.0, integrity takes center stage.
Why Integrity Matters for AI and Web 3.0
In their paper, Schneier and Ottenheimer highlight how AI systems require robust integrity controls to:
- Ensure data accuracy throughout processing
- Preserve meaning as data moves through systems
- Produce reliable, verifiable results
- Allow humans to understand and validate AI operations
Without these controls, we risk serious consequences: biased hiring systems, fatal autonomous vehicle decisions, and flawed medical recommendations. In a world where AI systems increasingly make critical decisions, integrity is non-negotiable.
How Inrupt Is Building a Trusted Web 3.0
The tools to build strong integrity controls for AI platforms already exist, and are in use by organizations and governments today. Inrupt’s Agentic Wallets™ pair AI with consented user data, enabling organizations to provide uniquely personal, secure customer experiences. These Wallets are backed by our implementation of the Solid protocol (created by web inventor and Inrupt co-founder Sir Tim Berners-Lee). Together, they enable:
- Granular access control: Giving users and organizations precise control over who can access what information
- Nuanced authentication: Ensuring data access is properly verified at every step
- Transparent data ownership: Allowing data owners to know how and when their data is used and creating auditable trails of data provenance
- Access standardization: Providing common interfaces and protocols that enable consistent data access while maintaining security and privacy
Schneier and Ottenheimer write:
“By providing standardized ways to verify data provenance and maintain data integrity throughout its lifecycle, Web 3.0 creates the trusted environment that AI systems require to operate reliably. This architectural leap for integrity control in the hands of users helps ensure that data remains trustworthy from generation and collection through processing and storage.”
The Path Forward
Just as HTTPS created the foundation for trusted e-commerce, new integrity-focused standards and products like those we're developing at Inrupt will enable the trusted AI services of tomorrow. Read the full paper to explore how data integrity will shape the future of AI and Web 3.0, and get in touch to learn how Agentic Wallets™ can shape the future of customer relationships in your organization.
