The workshop was organised in collaboration with the Project Liberty Institute. Discussions focused on 3 areas:
- participants examined how to leverage existing and forthcoming Commission initiatives, such as the Digital Markets Act and the 28th regime, to develop concrete measures that support the growth of emerging platforms. They discussed how such platforms can prioritise digital inclusion, digital sovereignty, trust and the ethical use of innovative technologies. This included identifying which technical building blocks - such as open protocols, interoperability standards, and European digital identity solutions - are ready to scale and where critical gaps remain.
- participants explored alternative business models for social networks that could make these future platforms commercially viable.
- they discussed what is needed to scale up pilots across Europe, including on digital infrastructure initiatives, and what a shared toolbox should include to support this transition.
These discussions took place as the Commission continues to lay the groundwork for such efforts. The Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act strengthen the framework for online safety and fair competition, while broader EU initiatives on data and AI support trust and innovation. The EU is also developing digital tools, including the EU Digital Identity and future EU Business Wallets, which innovators can use to create new, trusted online services. Initiatives to simplify doing business across the Single Market, including the proposed 28th Regime, could help entrepreneurs scale faster. In parallel, EU funding, such as Horizon Europe, supports research and open-source innovation.
The Commission is committed to removing barriers, connecting stakeholders and helping to create the conditions for a diverse and trustworthy social media landscape. The outcomes of the workshop will inform the Commission’s next steps and future policy initiatives.
The workshop was held in follow-up to the European Democracy Shield, the Commission’s initiative to strengthen democratic resilience in the EU. It contributed to the Democracy Shield’s goals to encourage a more diverse and trustworthy ecosystem for social networks.