Solid Pods: A Promising Approach to Enhance Users’ Perception of Data Transparency and Control

Abstract The continuing decline of trust in the processing and fair use of personal data has been well documented. A web standard called Solid (SOcial LInked Data) is being developed to halt and mitigate the decline. It puts users in control of their data by enabling them to securely store their data in decentralized personal online data stores (pods). However, little is known about the impact of such pods. Therefore, we measured the effects of the use of a Solid pod on users’ perceived transparency, understanding, control and trust, as well as on usability and behavioural intention. We set up an experiment that compares the perceptions of users about how their data is being processed and stored on a cookies-enabled news recommendation website with a similar Solid-pod-enabled news recommendation website. Although our findings do not provide evidence that this has significantly impacted users’ trust, perceived usability, or intention to use the system, it has been found to significantly impact users’ perceived transparency and control.