Big Tech Harvests $831,000 in Lifetime Value From Average American User
The foundation stresses consumers should decide whether their data is shared.
May 26, 2026 – The Web3 Foundation released a report Monday finding that major technology and artificial intelligence companies generate nearly $831,500 in commercial value from the average American internet user over the course of their digital lifetime.
Even under the most conservative assumptions, the report estimates companies derive approximately $288,969 in value from an individual American user.
The Switzerland-based Web3 Foundation argues that personal data, online behavior, and AI-generated insights have become some of the most valuable assets in the modern digital economy, often without users fully understanding how that information is monetized.
