At SXSW 2025, entrepreneur Frank McCourt, founder of Project Liberty, announced that his organization has been in discussions with internet pioneer Tim Berners-Lee about integrating Solid, Berners-Lee's open-source project, into Project Liberty's open internet infrastructure. This potential collaboration could mark a significant step towards creating a more open web, where users have control over their own digital identities and data.

Project Liberty, which is developing a decentralized social networking protocol (DSNP), aims to provide users with more autonomy over their online presence. Similarly, Solid, launched by Berners-Lee in 2018, enables individuals to store their data in online storage entities called Personal Online Data Stores, or Pods for short. The alignment of their missions has sparked interest in a potential partnership between the two initiatives.

During a panel at SXSW, McCourt shared that his team had "talked to Tim Berners-Lee about Solid," and that "Project Liberty is compatible with Solid." Although no official partnership has been announced, McCourt hinted at ongoing discussions about incorporating Solid into Project Liberty. "We're debating, or talking, right now about how to incorporate that — him and Solid, his Solid Pods — into the project," McCourt said.

Berners-Lee, known as the father of the World Wide Web, has been supportive of Project Liberty's efforts. He even backed its bid to acquire TikTok, stating, "This project has my support. The web I invented was to provide power and value to individuals, which they do not have at the moment." This endorsement underscores the shared vision of empowering users with control over their digital identities and data.

Inrupt, a startup built on top of Solid, has launched a privacy platform aimed at enterprises, allowing individuals to control their data in online storage entities. Project Liberty, on the other hand, is focused on developing DSNP, which is being adopted by a handful of apps and projects, including MeWe, Soar.com, and the permissionless blockchain Frequency.

Recently, Project Liberty announced a partnership with Free Our Feeds, an effort focused on protecting the AT Protocol, which powers Bluesky's social network. This collaboration further solidifies Project Liberty's commitment to creating a more open and decentralized web.

The potential integration of Solid and Project Liberty could have significant implications for the future of the web. By combining their efforts, these initiatives may be able to create a more robust and user-centric infrastructure, where individuals have greater control over their digital identities and data. As the web continues to evolve, this partnership could play a crucial role in shaping its direction and ensuring that users' rights are protected.

In conclusion, the potential collaboration between Project Liberty and Solid marks an exciting development in the pursuit of a more open and decentralized web. As these initiatives continue to explore ways to empower users, the tech industry will be watching closely to see how this partnership unfolds and what implications it may have for the future of the web.