All about Web 3.0

A definition of Web 3.0

The web is undergoing an unprecedented technological transition which is set to profoundly transform our relationship with the digital world. Those interested in the evolution of the web universe have certainly already been confronted with the expression " web 3.0 " or " semantic web ". A term that covers several definitions and that can generate confusion. Here is an article that explores a definition of web 3.0.

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Understanding Web 1.0 and 2.0

Before discussing the definition of Web 3.0, it is worth recalling what Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 are.

Web 1.0 is the most basic version of the web. It appeared in the 1990s and is a network of websites consisting of static web pages linked by hyperlinks. Internet users can now read content online.

Web 2.0 adds the function of publication, on which a number of applications are built where Internet users can connect with each other: this is the advent of social networks such as Facebook, Instagram or Whatsapp.

The technical ecosystem that developed at that time profoundly transformed our relationship with the digital world: we can now make an appointment with our GP via an application, order a meal, share photos of our last holiday or open an online account...

And this is not the end of the story!

Indeed, Web 3.0 is coming and what it promises will redistribute the cards of web governance.

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What is the definition of Web 3.0?

The definition of Web 3.0 has evolved considerably since it was first formulated in 2008. Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the Web and director of the W3C, saw a " model that allows data to be shared and reused across multiple applications, companies and user groups ". He would later give credence to what would be called the " semantic web ".  

Although Web 2.0 has begun an evolution towards this original vision, it has been accompanied by several failures:

1. The lack of web governance due to the centralisation of power in the hands of large platforms: GAFAMs own, exploit and monetise the digital identities of individuals, sometimes without their knowledge.
2. Digital identity management systems are vulnerable: the increasing number of security breaches and other obvious failures is a clear symptom of the limitations of the centralised digital identity management model.
3. Multiple digital identities mean multiple points of failure: with an average of 150 Internet accounts for each user, multiple digital identities create real headaches both for users - who often use the same passwords to access multiple accounts - and for corporate information systems, which have to work harder to secure user data.  

These are the three issues that Web 3.0 aims to address. 

Web 3.0 is the decentralised Internet - based on peer-to-peer technologies such as the blockchain - which allows each Internet user to have full control over their personal data and, more broadly, to participate actively in the governance of the web.

By enshrining blockchain protocols, Web 3.0 aims to give Internet users back control over their personal data.

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The issue of data protection at the heart of the definition of Web 3.0

The issue of data protection is widely discussed in conversations about the future of the web, as the way data is managed by operators is central to the development of web 3.0 applications.

Therefore, several existing initiatives already allow users to regain control of their personal data.

This is particularly the case for decentralised digital identity, which promises a new user experience for everyday uses, from sending a message to a friend to managing one's bank account. These new digital identity management models are being built within a regulatory framework that prefigures Web 3.0 (i.e. the RGPD or eIDAS regulation).

These latest regulations herald the democratisation of the Self Sovereign Identity which will be at the heart of tomorrow's web 3.0 ecosystem: it is the end-user who will control his or her own digital identity and the personal data that make it up - and no longer commercial organisations or institutions.

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Decentralised digital identity or augmented identity: a new standard for web 3.0  

Digital identity management is central to our relationship with the digital world. This is why it is necessary to rethink the way in which each user gives access to their personal data to third parties, both private and public, while allowing the latter to offer a fluid and secure experience to their customers. Decentralised digital identity, otherwise known as augmented identity, offers :

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• Full control of users over their personal data
• Securing personal data through decentralisation
• Smoothing the user experience through automated verification methods.

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Archipels' augmented identity platform, based on a blockchain supported by EDF, Engie, La Poste and the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, gives companies the possibility of verifying the identity of natural and legal persons almost instantaneously for KYC and KYB, as well as certifying documents with probative value and data for various use cases.

With a gradual transition to web 3.0 and the issue of digital identities becoming paramount in tomorrow's digital ecosystem, it is essential to have a robust solution to verify the identity of your customers, secure the management of personal data and facilitate access to your services (if you wish to discuss this with us, we are at your disposal).