In a recent Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) session, Torben Kaaber, Head of Business Solutions at Concordium, & Ronni K Gothard Christiansen, CEO of AesirX, discussed the future of Internet evolution & data ownership through their partnership.
Ronni, also known as "VikingTechGuy", has been a pioneer since the early days of the Internet. He is now focused on bridging Web2 with Web3 to create an infrastructure that improves privacy, security, and data ownership.
Q1 - Explain what it is you’re trying to do at AesirX
The speakers discussed the challenges associated with the Web2 era, where BigTech corporations exploited user data for advertising and behavioral targeting.
“We're stuck in a Web2 limbo where we can't guarantee data ownership or valid consent, marking a need for further evolution”, said Ronni. “Web2 is centralized - there's no decentralized logic, but with Web2, what we can do is apply new technology”.
Now, by combining Concordium's blockchain technology with AesirX's solutions, users are offered the key to their own data ownership and consent, marking a critical shift towards a decentralized, user-centric Web3.
Q2 - How do you take control & protect data using AesirX & Concordium solutions?
With AesirX's solution, businesses can move away from platforms like Google Analytics that have been criticized for misusing data. AesirX provides a free open-source Analytics alternative that allows for first-party data collection and storage, ensuring that data usage isn't shared with third parties.
Utilizing Concordium Blockchain, AesirX overlays an anonymized, aggregated Web3 ID for enhanced data security. We emphasize decentralized consent and data ownership, offering a 4-tier consent model tailored to the user.
Ronni explained, “for instance, a user visiting a site without a Web3 ID or Wallet falls under tier 1 consent - for a single 30-minute session where no data is collected, shared, or stored. This ensures a superior user experience while maintaining anonymity”.
If site users have a Concordium Wallet or AesirX WEB3 ID they are prompted for consent, and we access signing requests from users' Wallets and observe the consent given, triggering a process on Concordium's blockchain.
By initiating a signing request in their digital wallet, users hold the key to decentralized ownership, gaining control over their consent and, consequently, their personal data.
In an era of new data regulations, like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), AesirX's approach disrupts traditional Web2 practices, marking a shift towards user-centric data ownership and privacy.
Q3 - How many businesses are actually living up to the rules today?
Recent studies revealed that about 92% of Danish businesses illegally use Google Analytics, a trend seen in Sweden and Austria, leading to regulatory penalties. In response, browsers like Firefox and Chrome now block third-party trackers, aligning with privacy laws. AesirX addresses this by decentralizing data ownership, paving the way for future ID usage expansion.
Q4 - What steps should e-commerce owners take to implement AesirX, & what can they expect once they adopt your solutions?
AesirX offers open-source, free tools on GitHub for e-commerce website owners wanting to transition from Web2 to Web3. The software includes AesirX Analytics and AesirX Business Intelligence, easily integrated into any web solution. There are also one-click, 30-second install plugins for WordPress, Joomla, and WooCommerce sites. With a team steeped in open-source community experience, AesirX is well-positioned to guide this technology transition.
Q5 - As a private user, how does AesirX WEB3 ID & Concordium layer 1 work, & how do they enhance data security?
For private users, AesirX significantly enhances data security. We've developed it over the last ten years, altering the data model and ensuring no personal data is available to abuse.
Using Concordium's layer 1, AesirX doesn't handle any personal data, ensuring users' identities are secure. Concordium and AesirX don't even know your identity; only the national ID provider does, and the data they have is encrypted. This allows us to confirm if you're a resident of a particular country or if you're of a certain age, without compromising your personal information.
Furthermore, AesirX Single Sign On installed on your WordPress site replaces traditional login procedures, reducing the risk of brute force attacks (where attackers use common word combinations in the hope of guessing your username and password).
Q6 - So, using your solution & connecting via the wallet ensures security?
Yes! AesirX's solution uses Concordium's world-leading zero-knowledge protocol for secure signing requests, minimizing personal data exposure and assuring the highest level of login security.
It welcomes both Web2 and Web3 users. You can be a Web2 user to start with and you don't need a wallet. AesirX WEB3 ID users benefit from web-based tokens and secure key alternatives even without a wallet.
With its four-tier consent model, AesirX caters to all users and aims for mass market adoption. For site owners, it's an open-source, free solution eliminating brute force attacks upon registering a Concordium Wallet.
Q7 - Explain the key features of AesirX WEB3 ID decentralized identity.
The focus is on behavior and experience data rather than personal information. It allows personalized user experiences by observing behavior, like shopping preferences, rather than relying on demographic data.
The framework, which includes AesirX Analytics and Single Sign On, creates a decentralized system controlling access to any asset and not relying on easily-compromised emails or usernames. It allows e-commerce sites to use data without sharing it with third parties, mitigating legal risks. It also verifies users, thereby eliminating fake posters or bots on social media.
Our Product Information Management (PIM) system offers full NFT support and integration of provenance tags for physical products.
AesirX also includes features to check age and residency, helping to safeguard minors online and manage access based on location. These features, available to download for free as open source from 1st September, align with recent legal decisions against third-party data sharing.
Remember that AesirX WEB3 ID is an ID aggregator rather than a conventional ID. We collect other IDs to improve user experiences on the web. We're utilizing Concordium to address problems web users face.
Q8 - How does the age restriction feature for kids work, specifically?
AesirX is tackling the lack of children's ID systems by introducing the WEB3 ID Children’s Pass. Parents create verified accounts and indirectly vouch for their children, making them compliant with data access regulations on any website using our technology.
This initiative, part of our "shield of privacy”, aims to enhance online protection, with further developments underway. The WEB3 ID can also be used for your kids, aligning with discussions in the EU.
Q9 - How does that tie in with other humanitarian goals?
We aim to enhance the World Wide Web, not monopolize or replace it, by creating an accessible, free, and extendable infrastructure. Our approach embraces continuous evolution to meet challenges and serve users better. We're now advancing into Web3 while planning to use technology to tackle existing and future issues.
Q10 - Tell us more about the adoption of AesirX & some of the key numbers.
We started releasing free Web2 business software solutions, such as Digital Marketing Automation, Product Information Management, and Analytics, a year ago to ensure access to compliant technology. We have already released 10 different basic Web2 software solutions for businesses to apply Marketing Technology and we have a full AesirX Business Suite that's live and downloadable.
Recently, we released our WEB3 ID and NFTs, updated our dApp, and our market launch only officially started in mid-July. The initial traction is promising and we look forward to further developments.
Q11 - What have you done so far with WEB3 ID sign-ups & NFT minting?
AesirX's WEB3 ID mints an NFT for each new signup, with a giveaway of a free AesirX WEB3 NFT for the first 2500 users. The next 2000 users will receive $CCD and $AesirX to mint their IDs.
Our app is in testing, featuring our 4-tier decentralized consent model and upcoming revoke/reclaim features. Once in the dApp, you can stake $AESIRX token; 40% of the 1 million $AESIRX for staking has been claimed. You can also invite friends and family to create their free WEB3 ID and protect their privacy. Moreover, $AESIRX tokens are set to launch in Q4, where users can purchase AesirX software at a discounted rate.
In the future, a website with an AesirX agreement will know only your wallet ID, preserving your privacy. AesirX WEB3 ID is also an onboarding platform to Web3 and Blockchain. So even if you don't own a Wallet yet, you can still be an AesirX WEB3 ID user because we aggregate other IDs.
We're facilitating the transition to Web3 by letting users log in with traditional methods so that everyone is included. You can log in using conventional methods, like Facebook, and gradually transition to a more secure web experience.
Our inclusive approach appeals to the 400 million people with wallets and also to those who don't yet have them. All our software solutions are market-ready and free. For instance, AesirX WEB3 ID NFT owners can now access our free Digital Marketing Automation tool. So if you're using Social Media, just go to our AesirX WEB3 ID - log in and you have digital marketing automation forever.
In collaboration with Concordium, we're also integrating social media verification to ensure accountability.
Our use of zero-knowledge technology puts us ahead in the market by around a year and a half, and we're now launching, expecting swift growth in the Concordium ecosystem.
Q12 - Elaborate on the $AESIRX token, target markets, & the expected impact on Concordium's transactions & users.
AesirX's token, launching in Q4 on Concordium, can be obtained as a community seed investor by purchasing a $1000 Enterprise WEB3 ID. The tokens, usable for buying AesirX software, offer a significant value benefit. We don't release the final token until everything is done and functioning perfectly.
The AesirX model revolves around a partner channel and community engagement, with a significant percentage of license sales incentivizing community spread. We have an affiliate program offering 25% of software sales to the affiliate and a share-to-earn program allowing an additional 10%.
