Sir Tim says a particular problem is the way personal data is handled.
When you log in and store data in a website, it can only be used within that website.
The idea of Solid is that people have a private data store, and they get to choose which organisations can access it, for what purpose, and for how long.
Called a Personal Online Data Store, or Pod, it gives users control over their data, and the freedom to combine it or share it between applications.
The company acts as a neutral intermediary, connecting businesses in different sectors and enabling them to access sensitive company and citizen data.
In the Solid application, the diploma has a token that guarantees the data is authentic and hasn't been changed.
Starting this year, five Belgian hospitals will store information about hospital visits in patients' Solid pods.
The idea is that it will make it easier for patients to share their medical data.
The pods store data in standard formats, so that it can be reused in multiple contexts.
Research commissioned by the Flemish government indicates that citizens would be willing to use the pods if they save time or money, or they help them to improve their health.
The Flemish pods are hosted using Enterprise Solid Server, provided by Inrupt.
John Bruce, Inrupt's co-founder and CEO, says you could have multiple pods hosted for you by companies such as internet service providers or travel firms you use frequently.
Pods could potentially make life harder for hackers.
Even though pods may share a server, each one has its own access controls, set by the user.
When the data value exists only in your pod, it is like the difference in the kind of attack one would get on a bank versus you getting mugged on the street.
Amanda Finch, CEO of The Chartered Institute of Information Security, says Athumi's plan to create a centralised data platform will have benefits.
As well as easing the flow of data through the economy it could boost security.
She adds a note of caution as the new architecture means citizens take responsibility for more sensitive data than they might previously have held.
Users need to make their own conscious decisions on whether they share data.
Back at Athumi, Mr De Vidts thinks Solid could be the start of a data revolution.
This Cyber News was published on www.bbc.com. Publication date: Sun, 10 Mar 2024 18:44:04 +0000