The Current Data Ecosystem, The Broken Exchange

Personal data has become one of the most valuable assets in the digital world, yet much of it is collected, traded, and monetized without meaningful knowledge or meaningful consent of the people it belongs to. This imbalance has fueled the rise of data brokers, companies that gather and sell personal information while leaving individuals completely outside the exchange. Platforms like Ownli are reshaping this system by restoring transparency, choice, and fairness to every data transaction.

How Data Brokers Operate

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Data brokers aggregate large volumes of personal information from public and private sources. They build detailed profiles that can include income, browsing behavior, geolocation information, demographic attributes, and even inferred traits such as political preferences.

These profiles are then packaged and sold to advertisers, financial institutions, insurers, and countless other third-parties.

In an ideal world, data exchange would involve three parties: the Data Owner, the Data Seller, and the Data Buyer. Data would move transparently with clear consent and clear value sharing.

In reality, data brokers remove the individual entirely. The exchange becomes a direct line between the Data Seller and the Data Buyer, leaving the person whose data is being sold without awareness, decision-making power, or benefit.

The Core Problems

The traditional data brokerage ecosystem has three primary problems:

No Control
In many cases people have little practical ability to decide who collects their information or how it is shared.

No Transparency
Data moves through opaque pipelines, making it impossible for individuals to understand who has access to their information or how it will be used.

No Compensation
Although this data carries significant financial value, the individuals who generate it receive nothing in return.

These issues raise clear ethical, privacy, and regulatory concerns, showing the need for a more responsible and user-centered approach.

Ownli’s Restored Ideal Exchange

Ownli is pioneering an ethical and transparent approach to data transactions. By placing the individual—the Data Owner—at the heart of the exchange, Ownli establishes a new model for fair and consensual value exchange, instead of excluding the individual from the process.

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Transforming the Data Subject into the Data Owner

Ownli begins by recognizing a simple truth: people should have authority over their own information.

Rather than being passive data points collected in the background, individuals become Data Owners, empowered to decide when their information is shared, which buyers may access it, and how much they earn in return. This shift restores autonomy and brings individuals back to the center of the data economy.

A Fair Value Exchange for All Parties

Ownli creates a balanced ecosystem where every participant benefits.

Data Buyers gain access to verified, accurate, and ethically-sourced data, improving decision-making while reducing regulatory risks.

Data Owners have full visibility and control over their data, the ability to approve every transaction, and the opportunity to earn compensation when their information is shared.

Ownli facilitates this relationship with clear consent, clear verification, and clear value distribution. The result is a responsible data marketplace where every exchange is transparent and mutually beneficial.

How Ownli Works in Practice

After explaining the flaws of the current data ecosystem and introducing the ideal exchange, we now explore how Ownli functions in real life.

Ownli allows individuals to take control of valuable data about their lives, such as their vehicle data, insurance profiles, or home condition. Instead of allowing third parties to collect this invisibly, Ownli turns these data points into opportunities for people to participate in a fair exchange.

You begin by creating your profile, reviewing your information, and setting your preferences. Your data is then verified by Ownli so buyers know it is accurate. You can then shop with our exclusive partners or be notified when a business requests to work with you. You see what they want, why they want it, what they’re offering, and what you will earn if you approve. You stay in control at every step.

Real World Examples of Data You Can Share

Car Data
Share verified driving information such as mileage, vehicle condition, or maintenance patterns. Companies seeking insights into drivers or vehicle performance can request this data. You choose whether to participate and you earn when you agree.

Insurance Profile Data
Provide information such as coverage details, shopping intent, or risk characteristics. Insurers can use this data to create personalized offers. You maintain full control, allowing the exchange only when you are comfortable.

Home and Behavioral Check-Ins
Submit verified photos and information about the interior or exterior of your home. Insurers and home service companies value this data because it reduces risk and improves accuracy. You decide when to share and you earn from each transaction.

In every example, the individual moves from passive Data Subject to active Data Owner by removing the Data Seller, while Ownli ensures transparency, trust, and explicit consent.

Why This Matters

The traditional data ecosystem has long been defined by secrecy, lack of consent, and one-sided value extraction. Ownli changes this fundamentally by restoring the ideal data exchange.

For individuals, this means control, clarity, privacy, and a share of the value their data generates.

For businesses, this means access to high quality, permission-based data that is compliant, accurate, and ethically sourced. This builds stronger relationships with customers and reduces regulatory risk.

Both sides participate in a system built on integrity, openness, and mutual benefit.

The Future of Fair Data Exchange

Ownli is redefining how personal data is shared and valued. By restoring transparency and consent and by transforming individuals into active participants, Ownli creates an ecosystem that benefits consumers and businesses equally.

This is the future of data exchange: fair, ethical, transparent, and centered on the people who create the data in the first place.

If you want to take control of your data and participate in a more equitable system, now is the time to experience how Ownli works.

Co written by the Ownli team and Avishai Ostrin, Data Privacy & AI Governance Consultant, and Co Founder at TrustIZ.