Category: News

A new kind of internet is gaining ground. One that puts users, not tech giants, back in control.

On Thursday, September 18, YourData Network invites you to a free, live webinar:
“Introduction to the Decentralized Internet.”

This session will be hosted in English by Robert Jan Lamers, founder of YourData Network and outspoken advocate for a privacy-first, user-owned internet. With clarity and vision, Robert Jan will guide you through one of the most important shifts in digital history.

🗓️ Thursday, September 18, 2025 – 20:00 CET
🎤 In English | Hosted by Robert Jan Lamers, Founder of Your Data Network

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What you’ll learn

• What the decentralized internet really is and why it changes everything
• How it empowers your autonomy, privacy, and digital rights
• Why it’s also better for the environment and energy use
• How it works, without the tech jargon
• How to start using it today
• How to contribute to this growing movement

You’ll hear real-world examples, get actionable insights, and have the chance to ask your own questions live.

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Why this matters

The internet wasn’t meant to be owned by a handful of corporations. But that’s exactly where we’ve ended up. From invasive ads to mass surveillance, our digital lives are increasingly shaped by centralized systems that serve profit over people.

It’s time for something better.
A web where you own your data.
Where you choose who sees what.
Where trust is built into the network, not outsourced to Big Tech.

This webinar is your first step.

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Who it’s for

• Anyone concerned about privacy, censorship or online control
• Professionals looking for future-proof digital alternatives
• Curious minds who want to understand what’s next for the internet

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Sign up now, it’s free
Want to learn how to take control of your data and use new internet technology on your terms? Join our 75-minute online webinar where we explain everything in a clear, practical way.

This past weekend, we had the pleasure of attending the Volla Community Days in Germany – a two-day event full of inspiration, innovation and shared values around digital autonomy, privacy and sustainability. We’re looking back on a gathering that brought together an impressive lineup of speakers and tech pioneers.

A movement in full bloom
Developers, companies, and communities from across the globe came together to share their contributions to a more ethical internet. Dr. Jörg Wurzer from Volla presented the latest developments in their hardware, operating system, and cloud solutions. Nicholas Quinn (Beechat) demonstrated a resilient mesh network for communication, and Ricardo Mendoza & Paul Hartola of the UBports Foundation spoke about the future of Ubuntu Touch.

Decentralization in action
Saturday afternoon featured contributions from Eric Harris-Braun (Holochain Foundation), Jaydon Ong (Holo Host), and Weynand Kuijpers (Threefold), highlighting how peer-to-peer technologies, decentralized storage and open infrastructure are coming together in practical applications. Other projects included a new integrated development environment by darksoil studio and operating system porting efforts from Eclipse Foundation and Oniro.

OwnPhone: the smartphone that puts your data back in your hands
During the event, we had the opportunity to present our OwnPhone: a smartphone designed around radical privacy and true ownership. It runs on a Google-free, open-source operating system, offers seamless integration with a personal cloud and operates entirely outside the Big Tech ecosystem.
Curious? Visit the OwnPhone website for full details and specs.

Watch the presentations
Many of the talks and demos from the event have been made available by Volla. You can find them on the official Volla downloads and recordings page.

We’re proud to have been part of this growing community and look forward to all the collaborations and next steps that will follow.

International platform for digital autonomy highlights collaboration around privacy-friendly smartphone

During the Volla Community Days 2025, Volla and YourData Network will present their collaboration to an international audience of developers, entrepreneurs, and privacy advocates. On Saturday, June 14, Robert Jan Lamers, CEO of YourData Network, will deliver a keynote about the OwnPhone: the first smartphone specifically designed for use with the decentralized internet. The presentation is part of a two-day program in which Volla showcases the latest developments in hardware, operating systems, and the Volla Cloud.

The Volla Community Days, taking place on June 14 and 15 in Remscheid (Germany) and available worldwide via livestream, bring together a unique lineup of pioneers in privacy-friendly technology. Alongside Volla and YourData Network, organizations such as Holochain, Threefold, UBports, and Beechat will present their latest innovations in distributed cloud, alternative operating systems, and mesh networks.

Building digital autonomy together

The collaboration between Volla and YourData Network unites multiple layers of digital autonomy in one user-friendly ecosystem. Volla develops privacy-focused hardware and software, including the Volla OS, the Volla Cloud, and a range of mobile devices. YourData Network builds on this foundation with applications for the decentralized internet, including secure data storage via Threefold and forward-looking apps that operate without centralized infrastructure.

“With the OwnPhone, we make the promise of digital autonomy usable for everyone,” says Robert Jan Lamers, CEO of YourData Network. “Thanks to our partnership with Volla, we can offer a device that truly stands as an alternative to Big Tech, without compromising on ease of use.”

For Volla, the collaboration is also a logical step. “We believe in an open ecosystem where partners amplify each other’s strengths,” says Dr. Jörg Wurzer, founder and director of Volla. “Our partnership with YourData Network shows how our platform can be used as a foundation for distributed applications that give users back their freedom and control.”

About Volla Community Days

The Volla Community Days are an annual event where the Volla community, open source developers, and partners from the privacy tech space come together to share ideas and demonstrate technology. The 2025 edition promises to be one of the most forward-looking yet, with presentations on Ubuntu Touch, Oniro, Volla OS, the Volla Cloud, and new hardware such as the Volla Tablet. Robert Jan Lamers’ keynote will take place on Saturday, June 14 at 3:50 PM.

More info

Location: Kölner Straße 102, 42897 Remscheid, Germany.

More info and agenda:

• www.volla.online
• https://volla.online/de/blog/files/vcd-2025.html

On Thursday May 29 we officially launched the OwnPhone: a smartphone designed for people who want full control over their data without compromising usability or privacy.

If you’ve ever wished for a phone that doesn’t track your every move, doesn’t require an account to function and doesn’t distract you with endless notifications, the OwnPhone might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

Built in partnership with Volla (developers of the hardware and software) and Threefold (the pioneers behind the decentralized internet) the OwnPhone introduces a radically different approach to mobile technology.

During the live launch event we shared what makes this device so unique:
• it frees you from Google, Apple and any other data-collecting ecosystems
• it allows you to store and manage your data through decentralized infrastructure
• it minimizes digital distractions and puts you back in control of your attention

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive—a clear signal that many are ready for a new way of thinking about smartphones.

Watch the full launch event recording below to see how OwnPhone works, hear from the people who built it and discover why this is more than just a phone. It’s a movement toward digital ownership.

The video is in English, as the launch was hosted for an international audience.

For more details or to order your OwnPhone, look here.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at hello@yourdata.network.

A new kind of internet is gaining ground. One that puts users – not tech giants – back in control.

On Thursday, July 24, Your Data Network invites you to a free, live webinar:
“Introduction to the decentralized internet.”

This session will be hosted in Dutch by Robert‑Jan Lamers, founder of Your Data Network and outspoken advocate for a privacy-first, user-owned internet. With clarity and vision, he will guide you through one of the most important shifts in digital history.

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🗓️ Thursday, July 24, 2025 – 20:00 CET
🎤 In Dutch | Hosted by Robert‑Jan Lamers, Founder of Your Data Network

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What you’ll learn

• What the decentralized internet really is—and why it changes everything
• How it empowers your autonomy, privacy, and digital rights
• Why it’s also better for the environment and energy use
• How it works, without the tech jargon
• How to start using it today
• How to contribute to this growing movement

You’ll hear real-world examples, get actionable insights, and have the chance to ask your own questions live.

Why this matters

The internet wasn’t meant to be owned by a handful of corporations. But that’s exactly where we’ve ended up. From invasive ads to mass surveillance, our digital lives are increasingly shaped by centralized systems that serve profit over people.

It’s time for something better.
A web where you own your data.
Where you choose who sees what.
Where trust is built into the network, not outsourced to Big Tech.

This webinar is your first step.

Who it’s for

• Anyone concerned about privacy, censorship or online control
• Professionals looking for future-proof digital alternatives
• Curious minds who want to understand what’s next for the internet

Sign up now – it’s free

Want to learn how to take control of your data and use new internet technology on your terms? Join our 75-minute online webinar where we explain everything in a clear, practical way.

Don’t miss this chance to get informed and inspired. Join us live on July 24 and be part of the shift toward a more human internet.