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Seoul Peace Prize

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Sir Tim Berners-Lee is a scientist who particularly emphasized the importance of information, saying, “Data is the heart of the future.”

Sir Tim invented the World Wide Web(www) in 1989 made it available for free to people around the world, allowing the general public to use the Internet unrestrictedly, which was previously only used by experts and a small number of people. Because of this philosophy, he is being called a true digital giant.

The World Wide Web, invented by Sir Tim, is regarded as a technological revolution, a printing revolution, and an information revolution that has revolutionized our quality of life without space-time constraints in the 20th century.

He dedicated himself to resolving the issue of unequal access and use of the web, which not only causes inequality between individuals but also between companies, and between countries. In particular, he raises the issue of data monopoly of IT companies and suggests policies to realize an equal web while promoting data decentralization.

Tim Berners-Lee also stands by the belief that Internet access should be regarded as a lifeline and a fundamental human right. On this philosophical basis, he provided a platform for human coexistence through the World Wide Web, and by offering it for free, he left a message of true idealism and altruism.

For his philosophy and actions, Tim Berners-Lee is also regarded as one of the greatest philanthropists of the 20th century. His efforts guarded and expanded individual freedom and equality, which are universal values of mankind, thereby greatly contributing to the enhancement of common good of mankind.

Meanwhile Sir Tim also focuses on the emergence of negative effects such as hacking, counterfeiting, fake news, and information manipulation, which came about with the advancement of the web. Expressing concern about these negative effects, which were not issues to be much considered at the time of inventing the World Wide Web in 1989, he has been promoting the “Solid Project”as a solution to resolve them.

The “Solid Project”consists of building a open source based solid web environment that grants control over the use of one’s data, specifying where it should be saved, which individuals and organizations should be allowed access to selected data, and what apps should be used to access it, thereby allowing data sovereignty to users that provide their own information. Tim Berners-Lee opposes the monopolization of user data by a few large Internet companies that gain influence and profit from it. Maintaining that users should have control over their own information, he argues for data sovereignty on the web.

He is promoting a new human rights movement for Internet sovereignty, providing and controlling the use of one’s own data, as well as claiming the economic rights and gains that come from it in the digital era of the 21st century.

Further, he criticizes, among others, political manipulation, fake news, and the violation of privacy by those that seek to drive humanity into a digital dystopia. In this regard, Tim Berners-Lee announced the "Contract for the Web" that governments, companies, and individuals must abide by restoring the health of the Web, while urging the need for global solidarity to resolve these matters.

He criticised the abuse of fake news for political propaganda, and the restriction and control of Internet use to maintain the authoritarian regime. For that reason he argues data sovereignty to faster democratization. It is also recognized to promote democracy around the world.

Sir Tim Berners-Lee has greatly contributed to guarantee and expanding basic human rights, which include freedom and equality, freedom of the press, improving individual welfare and enhancing the quality of life through science technology. He is dedicating to promoting positive peace by removing structural constraints that threaten the personal data and data sovereignty on the web.