Europe is taking steps to assert its digital independence by launching the Eurosky initiative, a government-backed project to reduce reliance on US tech giants.
Eurosky seeks to build European infrastructure for social media platforms and promote digital sovereignty. The goal is to ensure that the continent's digital space is governed by European laws, values, and rules, rather than being subject to the influence of foreign companies or governments.
To support this goal, Eurosky plans to implement a decentralised content moderation system, modelled after the approach used by the Bluesky network.
Moderation, essential for removing harmful or illegal content like child exploitation or stolen data, remains a significant obstacle for new platforms. Eurosky offers a non-profit moderation service to help emerging social media providers handle this task, thus lowering the barriers to entering the market.
The project enjoys strong public and political backing. Polls show that majorities in France, Germany, and Spain prefer Europe-based platforms, with only 5% favouring US providers.
Eurosky also has support from four European governments, though their identities remain undisclosed. This momentum aligns with a broader shift in user behaviour, as Europeans increasingly turn to local tech services amid privacy and sovereignty concerns.
