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IPFS News Link • Privacy Rights

Helm's mission is to make it incredibly easy for everyone to own and control their personal data

• The Helm

In 2015, my co-founder and I took a look at the state of the internet. A handful of companies had most of the control and power, and they dominated the market by giving away free services in order to learn—then leverage—a lot of information about their users. Retargeting was on the rise, which meant ads were following us everywhere we went. Revelations about the way the NSA was using Americans' data angered us and helped raise broader awareness about this problem. These technology companies were some of the most valuable ever created, yet somehow most of their real users had never paid them a single penny.

The internet we started using in the early 90s looked very different than the one our families are using today. We believed control needed to be returned to the people, so we asked ourselves: What can we do about it?
 

Right now, nearly all the data that comprises your online life is probably stored in a massive data center. You can't see it, you can't touch it—and you don't know who can.

This data is the foundation of your life online - your digital identity. We knew we had to create something that would help people take back that data and reclaim ownership of their life online—thus the Helm personal server was born.

Over the past few years, Helm has gone from concept to prototype to product —a personal server that lives where you do and gives you control over your online life. It's something you can physically see, touch, and turn on or off—and it's something only you can access. That means no more retargeting, no more insecure information, and no more fear of being caught up in mass surveillance.

We believe everyone should have the right to own their online identity, that's why we started this company. With Helm, you can feel safe, secure, and in control, knowing your data is right where it should be—with you.

We hope you'll join us—and take back control of your life online.


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