[matt_f]

I want to love this.

But, in trying to imagine any scenario in which tech corporations might conceivably start hosting their internal user data on these external "Solid Pods", I'm left drawing a blank.

Until we have a way that tech companies start storing users' data in user-controlled infrastructure, I think this idea is a noble fantasy.

I would love to hear an argument that will convince me I'm wrong on this.

[Vinnl]

The only scenario that I think is likely for tech corporations are either legislative pressure, or a tech corporation for which user tracking is not their core competency (e.g. Apple) using it as their USP as a moat against Google and Facebook.

That said, there's a lot of user data at non-tech companies. Especially given that they're not particularly skilled at securing that data, a changing regulatory climate turns that data more and more into a liability. If, as a user, you can ensure that that data is stored at a trusted and competent party (potentially yourself), that alone would already be a major win, in my (personal) opinion.