Online life has a price. And no, it’s not that $5.99 subscription you forgot to cancel. It’s your name, your location, your search history, and every “yes” you didn’t really mean to click on. Over the last decade, people have traded their personal data for convenience—and most didn’t even realize they were making a deal in the first place.
But the tide is turning. People are starting to pay attention to who has their info and what’s being done with it. It’s why more users are now searching for how to remove data from data brokers, the sites that operate in the background like digital pickpockets. Because let’s be honest—no one signed up to have their life sold to the highest bidder.
Your data’s Been monetised—Without you in the room
Every click, every purchase, every awkwardly timed ad on your feed? It’s not random. It’s your data, bundled, bought, and sold like stock. There’s a reason the global data broker industry is barreling toward a $350 billion valuation by 2030. This isn’t a conspiracy theory. It’s just business. But it’s been happening behind closed doors, without your consent, and without a cut of the profits.
So here’s the obvious question: if the data’s about you, shouldn’t it belong to you? After all, it’s your identity on the line. It’s your reputation on the line. Everything about you should all be under your control. Nothing should ever get past you when it comes to data that’s about you.
It’s the same logic as owning your photos, your writing, or your art. The difference? Big platforms have treated personal data like a free-for-all. But that’s starting to crack—and not a moment too soon. This means that urgency is of utmost importance at this point.
Laws are getting loud (Finally)
Let’s not get too excited—governments are still slow to act—but at least they’re no longer asleep at the wheel. Europe’s GDPR and California’s CCPA were the first serious punches thrown at the surveillance economy. They put a spotlight on the fact that you can ask companies to hand over, or even delete, what they’ve got on you.
But laws alone don’t stop shady practices. What they do is shift the tone—and when the legal mood changes, the money follows.
CNBC reports that funding for privacy-focused startups has surged significantly. That’s not a blip. That’s investors realizing people care more about data control than seeing one more hyper-personalized ad.
Control is the new cool
Here’s the part that really matters: it’s not just about the laws or the lawsuits. It’s about regular people actually doing something about their data. Tools are popping up that make it easy to find out who’s tracking you and wipe the slate clean.
We’re not talking browser plug-ins from the early 2000s. These are legit platforms that do the grunt work—like auto-sending opt-out requests to the companies collecting your data like it’s candy on Halloween.
And people are actually using them. Because cleaning up your digital footprint is starting to feel normal—like clearing out your inbox or unfollowing a cringey influencer. That shift in attitude? It’s power. And it’s pushing companies to stop pretending they didn’t notice.
We’ve even seen this trend creep into early-stage funding strategies, where founders who build with transparency are now the ones being taken seriously. Because let’s face it: no one wants to invest in another scandal.
Startups are (finally) reading the room
Privacy-first isn’t “niche” anymore—it’s a selling point. Users are smarter. They don’t need a whitepaper explaining data collection when the trust’s already broken. So when a product is upfront about consent and skips the shady defaults? It stands out.
The smartest founders aren’t just building great UX—they’re building trust from the ground up. Because in a market where everyone’s been burned by fine print and “cookie policy” scams, doing the right thing isn’t just ethical. It’s good business.
And let’s be honest: in 2025, if your startup still needs to hide behind dark patterns to survive, you’re probably not building something worth keeping.
You, but sovereign
This all points to a bigger shift—one that’s not just about data or startups or investors. It’s about identity. We’re entering an era where your data isn’t something platforms borrow indefinitely. It’s something you license. Or don’t. Your call.
No, this doesn’t mean everyone’s going off the grid. But it does mean the rules are changing. People want terms they can live with. They want respect. They want tools that help them say no.
And this idea—digital sovereignty—isn’t going away. It’s the future. Whether you’re a user cleaning up your online past, a founder building the next big thing, or an investor looking for the real disruptors—this is the new baseline.
Control, consent, and clarity are what make up the currency today.
