In today's digital world, our personal data has become the new gold of the internet. Every click, every search, every online purchase leaves a trail that companies collect, analyze, and sell. And while large tech corporations get rich off this information, most of us continue to hand over this value without receiving anything in return.
Because your data is worth more than you imagine. Every time you buy something with a card, use an app, or accept cookies from a website, you're generating invaluable information: where you are, what you consume, how much you spend, how much time you spend looking at a screen... All of this is part of the gigantic personal data market that moves billions of dollars every year.
The irony is that, for many users, this data means nothing. It's perceived as an inevitable byproduct of internet use. But in reality, they are the fuel that powers recommendation algorithms, personalized advertising, and the business strategies of the most powerful companies on the planet. It's not digital junk: it's digital gold.
The apps and digital services we use daily—from social media to map and entertainment apps—are presented as free. However, the real price we pay is with our data. We accept, without reading, the endless terms of service and give permission for that information to be shared, analyzed, and monetized.
As a result, Big Tech companies concentrate unprecedented power. They know more about us than many governments, and they use it to fine-tune their commercial and advertising machinery. Meanwhile, the average citizen remains outside the profit loop, even though it is their own behavior that generates the value.
What if we could get paid for our data?
This idea isn't new. More than five years ago, an attempt was made in California to pass a law that would require companies to pay for the data they collect. But the pressure from large corporations was so intense that the initiative failed. The reality is that no tech giant is willing to relinquish a share of the most profitable business of our time.
However, there are entrepreneurs who dare to challenge this model. Such is the case of Brazilian André Vellozo, founder of DrumWave, a Palo Alto-based startup that proposes a revolutionary approach: that each person own their data and can monetize it fairly and transparently.
On their websitehttps://drumwave.com/about)
they explain that data should function as a personal asset, just like a bank account or intellectual property.
The premise is simple in theory: if my data generates profits, I should receive a share of them. But, in practice, it's an enormous challenge. Secure mechanisms would have to be created to guarantee privacy, the true value of individual data would have to be defined, and efficient, global payment systems would have to be designed. Technology could make it possible—with blockchain, artificial intelligence, and decentralized platforms—but political will and business ethics are essential.
Until now, governments have been slow and hesitant to regulate this area. They have limited themselves to legislating on data protection (such as the European GDPR), but have not taken the step towards a value-sharing model. Defending citizens' digital rights should include the right to benefit from the data they themselves generate.
Without this institutional support, initiatives like DrumWave will struggle to thrive. Big Tech companies have the resources, influence, and an ecosystem designed to maintain the status quo. Therefore, although the dream of charging for our data is inspiring, it still seems distant.
Even so, all is not lost. Awareness of the data economy is growing, and more and more users are asking themselves who really owns their information. Perhaps in a few years, hybrid models will exist where people can manage their digital identity and decide what data to share, with whom, and in exchange for what.
Hopefully, the day will come when the value generated by our data is not concentrated in the hands of a few. That would be a fairer, more transparent, and truly democratic internet.
A video can be seen at: https://youtu.be/wFLkAlwGayc
EN 
ES