Berners-Lee said that Web3's purported mission of transferring data from Big Tech to the people is the right idea but he's taking a different route to the target.

Web3 is based on blockchain, Solid is built with standard web tools and open specifications. Private information is stored in decentralised data stores called "pods," which can be hosted wherever the user wants. They can then choose which apps can access their data. This approach aims to provide interoperability, speed, scalability, and privacy.

"When you try to build that stuff on the blockchain, it just doesn't work," said Berners-Lee.

Berners-Lee said Solid serves two separate purposes. One is preventing companies from misusing data for unsolicited purposes and the other is providing opportunities to benefit from our information.

Healthcare data, for instance, could be shared across trusted services to improve our treatment and support medical research. Photos, meanwhile, could be supplied to Facebook friends, LinkedIn colleagues, and Flickr followers without having to upload the pictures to each platform.

Berners-Lee's always wanted the web to be a collaborative tool and solve problems when part of the solution is in one person’s dead while the rest is in someone else’s.

"That was the sort of thing I wanted the web for. It took off more as a publishing medium — but all is not lost."