Europe’s Dependency on Foreign Platforms in the Digital Age
With over 5 billion active users worldwide using social networks, Europe continues to heavily rely on foreign platforms: American giants like Facebook, Instagram, and X (whose CEO, Elon Musk, is set to appear for voluntary questioning by the Paris prosecutor’s office regarding content moderation) or Chinese platforms like TikTok. These tech giants dominate the flow of information, cultural exchanges, and public debates on the continent.
But at what cost? The stakes are no longer just economic or technological, but also political, social, and identity-based. Europe, with its 450 million inhabitants, democratic values, and unique regulatory framework, has all the potential to be a major player in this sector. Yet, it remains a spectator despite having the necessary technologies, AI expertise, and skills to succeed.
Europe has already taken steps forward with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), which regulate data usage and content moderation. However, regulation alone is not enough; there is also a need for European infrastructures and platforms. Contrary to popular belief, Europe is not technologically behind.
On one hand, the EU has established expertise in AI, having adopted unprecedented regulations in 2024 to govern AI, while heavily investing in digital innovation hubs and “AI gigafactories” that can compete with American or Chinese infrastructures. On the other hand, European startups and scale-ups like Mistral AI in France or Konux in Germany demonstrate that Europe can innovate and compete with American tech giants. The European Commission recently approved investments of 1.3 billion euros to support these initiatives.
Creating European social networks goes beyond replacing Facebook or TikTok. It includes protecting citizens’ data from massive exploitation by foreign actors, stimulating local innovation, and strengthening democracy by promoting a less polarized public debate. It also aims to create economic value, as social networks represent a massive market that Europe could leverage for job creation, taxes, and sustainable growth.
Pooling Resources for Success
The path ahead is not easy, given that the main obstacles are political and cultural rather than technological. Europe must coordinate efforts to avoid fragmentation between member states and leverage resources collectively. It’s essential to have a clear political will and collective mobilization to establish sovereign social networks that are as efficient, secure, and attractive as established giants.
Europe does not need to wait. It has the technologies, talents, and values to succeed. What it lacks is a clear political will and collective mobilization. Sovereign social networks are not a utopia but a strategic necessity and historical opportunity. As the digital world evolves in 2026, Europe faces a crucial choice: either remain a mere spectator continent or become a major player in the digital revolution. The answer lies in our hands and must happen now.
The complete list of signatories includes various experts and professionals from different fields such as AI, research, journalism, and entrepreneurship.
