A group of European tech entrepreneurs has launched Eurosky, a government-supported initiative to develop infrastructure for Europe-based social media platforms.

The project begins operations today and aims to provide an alternative to US tech giants with a decentralized content moderation platform.

The Eurosky initiative addresses the challenge of moderating harmful or illegal content, such as stolen data and child exploitation material.

This issue has presented hurdles for new entrants in the social media market.

According to Sherif Elsayed-Ali, one of the project’s participants, the initiative’s non-profit moderation service will allow social platform operators to outsource this critical process.

Polling conducted by YouGov for advocacy groups People vs Big Tech and WeMove Europe revealed strong support for local social media platforms in France, Germany, and Spain.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Eurosky emerges amid overwhelming dependence on foreign tech platforms

The Eurosky initiative addresses a stark reality in Europe’s digital landscape: the region relies on foreign countries for over 80% of its digital products and services, creating significant strategic vulnerabilities 1.

This dependency is particularly visible in social media, where Facebook alone commands over 80% of Europe’s social media market share as of March 2025, with other US platforms like Instagram (7.09%), Pinterest (4.49%), and X/Twitter (4.22%) accounting for most of the remainder 2.

The dominance explains why polling shows strong public support for European alternatives—a sentiment reflected in YouGov data mentioned in the article showing only 5% of respondents in France, Germany, and Spain prefer US-based providers.

A recent survey of 273 tech and policy leaders reveals low confidence in Europe’s digital ambitions, with only 16% believing the EU will achieve its digital sovereignty goals within five years, highlighting the challenges Eurosky faces 3.

The initiative aligns with the EU’s broader Digital Compass strategy, which aims to reduce technological dependence while fostering innovation and competitiveness in response to concerns about data privacy and security 4.

2️⃣ Digital sovereignty has evolved from political concept to industrial imperative

Europe’s pursuit of digital sovereignty has transformed from abstract policy discussions to concrete industrial projects like Eurosky, reflecting growing concerns about operational control and data security.