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Shaping Europe’s digital future

WEB4HUB: A space for the metaverse – Virtual world and the transition to Web 4.0

The project assesses developments in Web 4.0 and virtual worlds to lay the foundation for a global governance framework for Web 4.0 through a multistakeholder approach.

The European Commission has launched a pilot project, “A Space for the Metaverse – Virtual World and the Transition to Web 4.0,” in the context of Action 9 of its strategy on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds. The project aims to assess key developments in internet technologies and establish a foundation for global dialogue on the governance of Web 4.0 and virtual worlds.

Project Objectives

While internet governance is a rather stable although evolving environment, with established global institutions and a strong anchor in the multistakeholder model, the governance of the new frontier for the internet requires thoughtful adaption. The uncharted territory ahead presents both challenges and opportunities for transformation.

Global, multistakeholder collaboration is essential to maintain the interoperability of the internet, establish consistent rules, protect digital rights, and address social, economic and environmental impact of technology. As we navigate this technological shift, the risk of a split between the current internet structure and emerging models grows, highlighting the need for a coherent, evolutionary approach to technology and policy governance.  To this end, this exercise aims to co-create high-level, foundational values and principles for the upcoming fourth generation of the web fostering unity across all stages of the internet´s evolution. The project has two broad objectives:

  • Assessing the main developments in internet technologies that are relevant for Web 4.0 and virtual worlds that will interlink with the development of an open and robust global governance. 
  • Preparing an informed concrete global debate on the different aspects of the global governance of Web 4.0 and Web 4.0. Our objective is to co-create foundational principles and recommendations for the governance of Web 4.0. The principles and recommendations will aim to ensure that the global internet remains open, inclusive, and trustworthy while addressing ethical and technological challenges. 

This project is being carried out by PPMI and TNO for DG CNECT.

The insights gathered through the stakeholder engagement, workshops and online discussion will directly feed into the High-Level Global Multistakeholder Conference on the Governance of Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds, co-organised by the European Commission and the 2025 Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Ways to contribute

You are invited to register for the High-Level Global Multistakeholder Conference on the Governance of Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds, which will take place in Brussels and online on 31 March and 1 April 2025. The conference will unite community leaders, civil society, policymakers, technologists, and experts.

For any other updates on the project and future stakeholder engagement activities, join the project mailing list to stay informed.

Activities carried out to date

As part of the study, a series of workshops have been conducted to engage stakeholders and gather diverse perspectives on the governance and technological aspects of Web 4.0 and virtual worlds:

The workshop brought together stakeholders to explore ethical considerations and stakeholder needs for an open, multi-stakeholder governance approach. Discussions centred on identifying principles to guide governance in virtual worlds and Web 4.0, with a focus on ensuring fairness, inclusivity, and accountability. You can download the workshop take aways and supporting materials.

The workshop focused on the drivers and barriers to the transition to Web 4.0. Participants examined the evolving internet architecture and technology landscape, highlighting innovations and areas requiring collaborative efforts. Key insights included the importance of interoperability, scalability, and trust in future technologies. You can download the workshop take aways and supporting materials

This workshop served as a pivotal platform to review and refine the outcomes of previous discussions on governance principles and technological solutions. Internet governance experts, policymakers, industry professionals, and stakeholders collaborated to shape actionable frameworks for navigating the complexities of Web 4.0 and virtual worlds. You can download the workshop take aways and supporting materials.

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Big Picture

The European Commission and the 2025 Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU are organising a Global Multistakeholder High Level Conference on the governance of Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds, on 31 March and 1 April 2025.