The concentration of power by data handling institutions is reinforced and enabled by centralized systems, which creates dependencies where individuals have no choice but to allow access to their personal information. Centralized systems for verification and storage are also more vulnerable to large-scale data breaches, and data breaches can compromise the ownership and control of personal data and intellectual property.

The prevailing property and ownership structures around data are driven by narrow incentives, predominantly focusing on profit maximization. This use of data primarily for economic gain and as a tool for centralized governance further entrenches and normalizes the practice of mass surveillance and corporate monopoly over user data.

There is an imbalance between the benefits garnered by entities accumulating and handling data, and the level of accountability they uphold. In the case of large-scale data breaches that compromise sensitive user information, the inadequacy of compensation and the lack of sufficient notification and support has been a point of tension. This underscores the disparity between the substantial benefits derived from user data by data handling entities and their commitment to protecting user privacy and data rights, aggravating concerns over mass surveillance and data monopolization.