Aiming for a World Where Users Have Full Control Over their Own Data: the Potential of NDN

Internet services have transformed personal data into an indispensable asset that forms the foundation of social and economic activities. People produce medical and financial records, purchase histories, location data, behavioral logs and user-generated content online on a daily basis.

Individuals who produce this data should be able to access it and use it on their own terms, but this is not always the case. For example, when applying for a loan, one might need to provide purpose-specific access to financial records. However, the ability to manage personal data-such as transferring records, granting purpose-specific and time-limited access, and revoking it-remains missing from everyday digital experiences.

Addressing these challenges requires a fundamental examination of the principles underlying data management and distribution on the Internet. SoftBank Corp.'s (TOKYO: 9434) Research Institute of Advanced Technology (RIAT) is working with the UCLA Internet Research Laboratory (IRL) to explore the future of personal data management. Both identified Named Data Networking (NDN) as a potential solution for storing user data under user control.

How does an NDN-based storage system work, and how can it help put individuals in control of their data? Learn more about these topics in this new White Paper from RIAT and IRL.

(Posted on January 29, 2026)
by SoftBank News Editors