It's a fair point!  Why would you sell your information?  But, of course, you already GIVE a lot of it away without realising it, or realise it but don't take advantage of its true monetary potential.  And what of charities, research organisations and others that you wish to support? Want to withdraw your data from money-making marketeers at the touch of a button?  Our personal data is sacred, but managing its usage in the Digital age is difficult, and we take it for granted.  Help us to help you 1) know who has your data, 2) remove it from them using the legal powers of GDPR and other data protection regulations, 3) profit from it where others have for years and 4) give it freely to charities and other organisations you trust.  My data, My choice  

Thanks for these comments.  I'll try to answer some as best I can.  Absolutely there have been other projects, and I generally welcome more projects in this space as I do feel it is under represented when compared to other, possibly more profitable, areas. Competition is a good thing!  The Pillar project is distinct from Dayta in that they are creating the framework within which many services that relate to and make use of data, personal and otherwise, can operate. There's a saying that data is the new oil.  If I may extend the analogy, while other projects (e.g. Pillar) look to refine, distill and distribute finished products, Dayta is looking at using the crude oil itself.  It's like knowing you have an oil well in your back garden but just let others access it...with your permission but no share in the profit. We're saying that if trusted companies, brands, etc will use your data, and you are happy for them to do so, then you should also partake in the massive profits they make from packaging your data in enhanced services to their own 3rd parties, marketing companies, customer research agencies, etc.

KYC must form part of the project.  I think a start up that focuses on personal data usage that then ignores legislation and regulatory requirements undermines its own tenants on data protection.  This may mean we are less profitable, and fewer people can contribute, but we will do things the right way, as far as we know how.