WEB 5.0
GS Paper – 3 IT & Computers
Why in the news?
- Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has revealed his concept for a new decentralised web platform called Web 5.0, which aims to give individuals “control over data and identity.”
- It is being developed by The Block Head, a Bitcoin business unit founded by former Twitter CEO Evan Williams.
- The World Wide Web (WWW) is the major tool that billions of people use to interact with one another as well as read and write information. From Web 1.0 to Web 5.0, there has been evolution.
What are the Key Features of Different Web Versions?
- The initial iteration of the worldwide digital communications network is known as Web 1.0. It is frequently referred to as the “read-only” Internet since it is comprised of static web pages that only allow for passive involvement.
- Web 2.0, The “read and write” Internet was the next stage in the growth of the web. Users may now communicate with servers and other users, birthing the social web. This is the internet as we know it today.
- Web 3.0 is a developing phrase that refers to the next generation of the Internet – a “read-write-execute” web built on decentralisation.
- It refers to a digital world constructed on blockchain technology, in which people can connect with one another without the necessity for a middleman.
- It will be powered by Artificial Intelligence and machine learning, which will allow machines to comprehend information in the same way that humans do.
Web 5.0:
- It is still in its early stages, as it is being developed by Dorsey’s Bitcoin business subsidiary, The Block Head (TBH). Web 5.0 aims to “create an additional decentralised web that puts one in control of one’s data and identity.”
- Web 5.0 is a combination of Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 that will enable users to “own their identity on the Internet” and “manage their data.”
- Both Web 3.0 and Web 5.0 envision an Internet free of censorship – whether from governments or big tech – and free of significant outages.
- It’s about transforming an individual’s “control of identity” and providing users control over their own data; for example, it’s entirely up to the user whether to save his data anonymously encrypted on the decentralised blockchain or to sell that data to vendors for monetization and advertising.
What are the Problems with Web 5.0?
- There are few consequences for this technology in the near future because it is still a concept in its early stages, and no one knows how it will turn out.
- How the sovereign government would allow this decentralised platform free of government intrusion could lead to conflict between the government and Web 5.0 supporters.
- There is still uncertainty about how the system will work, who will regulate it, and what safety scenarios exist for vulnerable people such as women, children, and the elderly.
The Way Forward
- Both the government and the promotional sides require a proper blueprint and policy.
- The effectiveness in the real world must be evaluated.
- Individual privacy should be prioritised over the necessity for personal data security.
- It should not become yet another instrument for venture capitalists to manipulate the platform for their personal gain, making a mockery of the political system in the process.
- The government should establish a regulatory authority to oversee these new and emerging technologies.
