Any move toward 'Cloud Computing', like any move toward the Semantic Web, will have to mean a greater and greater need for on-demand data traceability that goes way beyond mere password protection.

Listen to the NPR report, Cloud Computing Puts Computer Resources on Tap.

See also Peter Rip's journal entry entitled The Quiet Disruption in Process.

At the very least, data ownership is about on-demand data traceability. That is, knowing who is doing what with one's information when one wants to know.

People and businesses need to feel as comfortable with placing their valuable information into the hands of an online company as they are in placing their valuable money into the hands of their banker. See Banking on Granular Information Ownership.

The calculus is really just that simple.