The invention provides a method and system for controlling access to semantic web statements. The method comprises the steps of providing a set of semantic web statements in a defined format, and storing the statements in one or more first tables; and constructing a set of access control lists in the defined format, and storing the lists in one or more second tables. Each of the access control lists of the second tables is connected to one or more of the statements of the first tables, and the access control lists are used to enforce access rules to the semantic statements. Preferably, this access is enforced by filtering out web statements that users do not have permission to read, and by returning errors when users attempt to make changes to the semantic statements that the users do not have permission to change.