An open declaration
Open Social Platforms and Private Messaging
Social media’s impact on society and citizens clearly shows the need for change. Europe has a strong ecosystem of social companies and a deep well of expertise in designing and operating social protocols. We are building on this to move away from large monopolistic platforms with their authoritarian governance and editorial positions, and are joining forces to establish a diverse and resilient information infrastructure in Europe. Together, we will protect people and institutions from interference by these platforms. What’s more, we will bring thousands of jobs and billions of euros that social media generates to our continent, to circulate that revenue in our own thriving business ecosystem.
From this perspective, open European platforms and protocols such as the Fediverse (Mastodon, PeerTube, or Mobilizon), the Atmosphere (Eurosky, Flashes, Tangled, or Web Tiles) and Private Messaging systems (like Matrix or XMPP) are complementary solutions for Europe, with shared common goals.
Here is how we are building the European Social Web:
Common principles
The eight principles we hold in common.
Digital autonomy
We are governing digital infrastructure in Europe, according to democratic principles, away from the control of foreign companies or governments.
European tech stack
Social media and social networking are an important element of foreign technological dominance and key to foreign political interference in Europe. Therefore, we are building the Social Web as a critical layer of an independent Europe.
Decentralised networks
Europe is a union of 27 sovereign nations, over 200 languages and dialects, 242 regions, 100,000+ towns and cities and 450M people, united by the idea that collaboration and coordination is best for all Europeans. Decentralised social networks match the European model – diversity and local autonomy connected by transparent, open standards into a robust and resilient whole. As Europeans, we are seizing the opportunity to move to resilient, decentralised social networks and protocols, away from oligarch-owned walled gardens.
European content. European social networks. European infrastructure.
We call upon governments, municipalities, public service media, and civic institutions to:
- Publish content preferentially on open European social media. Oligarch-owned infrastructure follows oligarch editorial lines, and none of those are in the public’s interest.
- Invest in European content and the infrastructure to produce such content needed for European social networks.
- Fund the development of resilient, decentralised technology and infrastructure supporting European content and networks.
Wide and diverse ownership
We support a mix of ownership structures for social networks, from community to privately owned, from non-profit to VC-backed, from co-operatives to local companies. We call upon our elected officials to demonstrate political leadership and stop pandering to models that serve no European interest.
Diverse business models
With a diversity of ownership comes a diversity of business models. Our systems empower server operators and entrepreneurs to select the business model that best meets their needs, be it ad-supported (including novel privacy-preserving advertising technology developed in Europe), software-as a-service (SaaS), subscriptions, crowdfunding, public funding, and any other methods which they can imagine.
Strengthening democracy
Europe is in a hybrid conflict on two fronts; our elections and political life are under direct attack from foreign agents who use social media to manipulate public opinion and centre the political agenda to undermine us. We are deploying systems that have editorial pluralism and FIMI monitoring built in to shield our polity from influence and make our democracy resilient under attack.
Open source
The European social stack is a chance to bring Europe’s open source software strategy to everyday Europeans’ lives in a meaningful way. Open Source servers, infrastructure, and apps make social networking for Europeans more transparent, secure, and reliable. We are adopting open source and open protocol solutions to replace proprietary foreign technology.
Complementary technologies
Three complementary stacks.
Networked technologies form institutions that lend themselves to addressing different governance needs for different environments. Putting these three stacks together covers extensive ground:
Private messaging
For Private Messaging in groups, open standards (like Matrix or XMPP) are ideal for instantaneous communication, or sharing between family or friends. Multiple EU member states have successfully adopted these protocols, including for security and defence applications.
The Fediverse
The Fediverse, built around ActivityPub, has grown from cohesive grassroots communities that interact with one another, and connects all aspects of a social platform or digital publication into a single deployment. It is exemplified by Mastodon, PeerTube, and Mobilizon.
The Atmosphere
The Atmosphere, running AT, has its foundations in large-scale public social media systems and correspondingly offers the kind of unbundled governance that should be expected of large democratic systems. It can be seen at work in Eurosky, Flashes, Tangled, or the newer Web Tiles.
Joint developments
What the signatories intend to build together.
The open European platforms and protocols that sign intend to explore working on important areas of joint development. These include:
Eurobridge
Support and development of Eurobridge, a European-owned and -operated bridge that connects European Fediverse servers with Eurosky and the Atmosphere (built on Bridgy Fed).
Distributed identity
The development of a system for a distributed identity that can be used across networks and beyond (e.g. the European Digital ID Wallet) and protects personal data.
Content moderation
The development of content moderation infrastructure in accordance with the DSA and the DMA in order to support developers and communities to manage illegal content such as CSAM.
Multi-protocol integration
Multi-protocol integration such as using Matrix for DMs or stories in social apps that otherwise focus on community or public interactions, so that builders and users get the best of all worlds in a simple, invisible manner.
Collaboration on representation and funding
Representatives of the protocols, networks, platforms, and the communities they support are supportive of each other’s approaches to institutions and funders, collaborate on joint representations, submit joint proposals for funding (where appropriate), or acknowledge the need for dual funding for complementary solutions (where separate funding proposals are made).
A full social ecosystem
Work together to build a full social ecosystem. We are facing incumbents with trillions in valuation and billions of users, the only approach that is bigger than they are is ecosystemic. An ecosystem built on shared infrastructure and protocols empowers small builders to create social apps in no time and users to freely move between them. The network effects we create are shared by all.
Organisations
Organisational signatories.
- Felix Ableitner Lemmy
- Jaz-Michael King IFTAS
- James Smith Manyfold
- Melanie Bartos, Johannes Ernst, Tommi Marmo FediForum
- Wolfgang Oels Ecosia
- Anirudh Oppiliappan Tangled
- Guido X Jansen Singi Labs / Sifa ID
- Peter Mechels FediVariety
- John O’Nolan Ghost.org
- Bert Stavenuiter Mentaal.nl
- Kai Simon Utzinger SOVERIA
- Christian Bollert Podcast-Radio detektor.fm
- Herman Fostvedt Skylike.social
- Florian König KING CONSULT | Kommunikation
- Sam Sauer Krekeny
- Silas Wolf woven
- Alice Stollmeyer Defend Democracy
- Paul Payne Civil Society Technology Foundation
- Robin Everaars HOIST IT B.V.
- Mark Wieczorek Planetary Research Cooperative
- Niels Decoster touchgrass.network
- Hugo Gameiro Masto.host
- Razali Samsudin Manifest Studio
- Jurgen Gaeremyn BeLibre
- Ankesh Bharti Tiles Privacy
- Rafael Beckel Vista Tech & Art GmbH
- De Bontridder Dany NOALYSS
- Nepomuk Seiler gutefrage.net GmbH
- Mads Bordinggaard Rillbar
- Nzayisenga lsmael Global Cultivators Network
- Martin Fiedler Creative Saxony
- Jeroen Janssen LAYLO B.V.
- h3artbl33d Exquisite
- Kurt Gramlich www.fsub.de
- Patrick Boehler Gazzetta
- Ian Preston Peergos
- Mischa Peters OpenBSD Amsterdam
- Christian Landgren Berget AI
- Ian Forrester Cubicgarden ltd
- Markus Sabadello Danube Tech
- Callum Owen Wholesome Tech
- Kim Yeong-jae CYbrain-Group
- Jayne Samuel-Walker toot.wales
- Sophie Bloemen Commons Network
- Matt Morelli Give Back Guide
- Tobias B. Bacherle FOTI (Future of Technology Institute)
- Hannes Witerspan Fediway
- Paulo Emanuel Emdal Novais Guimaraes DARE Collective
- Damon Outlaw We Distribute
- David Chavalarias Complex Systems Institute of Paris Île-de-France
- OpenPortability OpenPortability
- Dr Astrid Deilmann Campact
- Olivier Mills Baobab Tech
- Philipp Fode makeITsocial
- Louis R Reynolds Commonshub
- Stefane Fermigier Abilian SAS
- Jeremiah Lee Ananas Teknik
- Piergiorgio Catti De Gasperi Web3Privacy Now
- Jacques-Olivier Garda Innov'Active
- Christophe Jourdain PaperMotion
- Jan Oleszczuk-Zygmuntowski PLZ Cooperative
- Daniel Burghardt Entwicklungspolitisches Netzwerk Hessen e.V. (EPN Hessen)
- Jan Schmirmund Suveris.eu
- Calum McGregor Montague Newton Group
- Patrick Leavy Rebel Tech Alliance
- Filippo Della Bianca Fedimedia
- Samantha Graham State of Mind
Individuals
Individual signatories.
- Guido X Jansen Founder · Sifa ID
- Ben Werdmuller
- Tyler Fisher Founder · Sill
- Douwe Schmidt
- Shivam Dhwan CEO · Leren Leren
- Katharina Holste-Gerstenkorn
- Herbert Ristl
- Michael Luger
- Damian Kunkis
- Ib Haarsma
- Haarsma Betist
- Tino Ruijs Software specialist
- William de Bruijn researcher for public media · VPRO/NPO
- Regina Niemann
- Stephan Schaefer
- Peter Diekmann
- Joachim Tillessen Partner / Creative Director · emjot GmbH & Co. KG
- Sarah Nicole Policy & Research Manager · Project Liberty Institute
- Martina Flöth
- Anja Garrelfs
- Heinrich J. Thies
- Thiago Ferrer Morini Journalist · EL PAÍS
- Helmut Rauscher
- Miguel Andúgar
- Dieter Pohland Dr. med.
- Udo Bader
- Oliver Sehon
- Herbert Haider
- Oliver Kant
- Bernd Thomsen
- Martha Ernst
- Stine Schaefer
- André Scholz Transformation Consultant
- Thiago Skárnio Alquimídia
- David Van den Brande
- Julian Müller
- Barry Prendergast Director · renderghost
- Ewan
- Harold Klein
- Roel Vanhooydonck Digital marketeer · Nevi
- Nicolas Hénin Author and researcher
- Paul Fuxjäger Researcher · University of Vienna
- Rolf Bruederlin
- T Moll Senior Site Reliability Engineer
- Ursula Mettner
- Athenae Erulin
- Jonas Krauss
- Joël Brogniart
- Mathieu Lefebvre
- Michael Müller
- Klemen Slavič Lead Software Engineer
- Bjarne Voigtländer
- Stefan Kolmsperger
- Mark Boas Media Technologist · The Hyperaudio Project
- Nikolaos Dimitropoulos
- Bouke van Laethem Cyber and Digital Autonomy Advisor · Digitale Doetank
- Jan Henckens
- Damien MATHIEU Founder / Developer · Cookifed
- Isaac Sousa
- Florent Lefebvre Social data analyst
- Martin Lentink
- Fernando Fernández De La Fuente
- Evan Huang
- Valérie Desenne Salomon
- Nathalie Bourgois
- Luzenko Nicolas
- Erik von St. Pauli POP Host and Admin · stpauli.social
- João Vicente Teacher
- Vincent Lemaire
- Geoffrey Cox
- Catharina Bethlehem
- Marcin Psiurski
- Felix Schröter Senior Software Engineer
- Peter Eisenhofer Digital Volunteer
- Colin Ozanne
- Enrique Sanchis Software engineer
- Michel Patrice
- mu zhong Neural network researchers and network engineers
- Julius Anuth
- Ruben Mepschen
- Anséric Stemart
- Loïc Herbreteau
- Philippos Papadopoulos Founder · Open Risk
- Xavier Desplanches
- Takahashi Shuuji Web Developer · Open Source Contributor
- Herma van den Brand
- Dirk Holtwick
- Ralph Möcklinghoff
- Serhii Kostenko
- Rachel Lawson
- Karin Nachtigal
- Lars Hanisch
- Christian Müller Software Engineer
- Melanie Schrader
- Jean Michel Bourin
- Erlend Sogge Heggen Founder · Roomy
- Christian Müller
- Nick Bohle European citizen
- Michael Bacq
- Richard Foreman owner · Foreman Art Research & Technology
- Markus Mayer
- Mathew Lowry Information architect, communication strategist · Fresh Integral Communications
- Riccardo Testa
- Amir Masoud Abdol Dr.
- Matthias Wallner-Géhri
- Jack G
- Antoinette Marshall Creative Technologist
- Naomi Roberts
- Juliet Chen
- Mark Wieczorek
- Sorin Biriescu Data manager
- Bernhard Maurer
- Isabelle Delseny-Ernest Consultante Digital & Numérique
- João Pinto Junqueira Coelho Software Engineer
- Romain Becker
- Eskild Wikkeling
- Thibaut Briand
- Christoph Stulz
- Alain Reul
- Myles Byrne Finland
- Albert Schmitz
- Mark Paul Mocanu
- Klaus Lichtenwalder
- Kyryl Mysnikov Engineer
- Hervé Barjat
- Nicolas Borboën EPFL
- Konstantin Tschaikowski
- Troed Sångberg Cybersec Professional
- Isabelle Bégou
- Jan Bleckwedel Psyhotherapist
- Alexandre AP Plennevaux
- Sabrina Buurmann
- Günter Hennings
- Mylan Kok
- Steven Vandevelde
- Daniel Roe Open source maintainer
- Jens Jørgen Mortensen
- Matthias Perz
- James Gibson Founder · The HumanRaceOrg
- jeannas Jean-Yves vice président · AFUL
- Hans-Peter Kern
- Adam Wysokiński
- Frederic Giloux
- Dr Grahame Cooper
- Udo Kasel
- Angelo Massaro Historical researcher · Centre for Historical Research
- Christoph Mayer Scientist
- Gaétan Young
- Aurélien Genin European citizen
- Thomas Diener
- Razali Samsudin Freedom Tech Builder · Manifest Studio
- Mark Klerks European citizen
- Günter Tristram
- Anna-Carolina Vogel
- Emmanuelle Foltz
- heike matscheroth
- Juan Roberto García Developer
- Denis Scollie
- Tuomas TPL Leone
- Oliver Kurbel
- Sylvain Franiatte
- Niclas Overby
- Pertti Juhani Pyhtilä The Greens, Finland
- Kuba Suder Independent ATProto developer
- Paul de Maat
- Jörgpeter Engel
- Julien Calixte
- Simonetta Vezzoso Trento University
- Nela Elise Hagen Fullstack Developer
- Eduard Molnar Student · CTQ
- Jeremy Herve Software Engineer
- Rémi Nouvelot
- Franky Devooght
- Marion Thibord
- Jose Antonio Perez
- Steohan Blocks
- Giorgio Vanini Developer, writer
- Henk Metselaar
- Vasco Ezequiel Pedrosa Citizen
- René Rodríguez G. Educador Social · Consejería de Educación
- Dan Pina Software Developer
- Ralf-Dietmar Klatte
- Joan Sentis
- Francisco Molinero
- Māris Jonovs
- Thierry Dhuart
- Ondřej Holan
- William Oswald
- Artur Coelho Teacher
- Manuel Pintor
- Sven A. Schmidt
- Hans Gerwitz
- Etienne Burdet
- Nicolas Castelain
- Gabriela Sotirca
- Felix Kastner
- Matteo Pellizzari
- Mads Bordinggaard
- Rene Fischer
- Francesco Feriozzi
- reiner peterke
- Wolfgang Hagen
- Tomáš Znamenáček Journalist
- Kevin Dölling
- Mael Thomas Fondateur de cartes.app
- Lukas Klingsbo
- Victoria Scott
- Benjamin Dumas
- Ulrik Høyer Kold
- Sheryar M
- Thomas Würgler Teacher
- Büssing-Kruse
- Peter Turtenwald
- Ricky Lagerkvist Android developer
- Christian Frank
- Mahon McCann Digital Ethics researcher · Dublin City University
- Logan Dupont
- Dario Castañé
- Steffen Lemmerzahl
- Josu Abasolo
- David Esteve
- Kai-Christian Bruhn
- Paulo da Silva
- Christof Panzner
- Roman Kofler
- Kaspar Straßburg developer, European citizen
- David Alfonsín Lareo
- Peter Götz
- Annette Peter Medical Doctor · Rehab Clinic
- Pascal Hertleif
- Peter Suber Harvard University
- Lorenzo Ubaldi
- Arnar palsson
- Rocco Zanni
- Eric Hameleers Senior IT Manager
- Marius Melzer
- Pedro Pozo Camino
- josep vives jounou Public servant · personal
- Stephan Hochdörfer
- Jari Ronkainen Staff Engineer
- Gregor Goldbach
- Hector Pedros--Godefroy
- Stephan Lewandowsky Professor of Cognitive Science · University of Bristol
- Jean-Christophe François
- Mark Glen Bilby
- Jordi Alsina Gavarró IT Technician
- Carlos González Berrendero
- Heleen Kuiper
- marianne schmidt
- Sascha Pallenberg Blogger · MeTacheles
- Remco IJpelaar
- Martin Ruskov researcher and developer · University of Milan & AgileLab
- Nico Mack Research Engineer
- Dr. med. Mathias Göbel Kardiologie Fischbachtal
- Edison Brunio Lepiten Founder · AIEONYX
- José Manuel Alves Guedes dos Santos
- Dirk Schulze Grachtrup
- Bernard Pochet OpenSolution.be
- Alessandro Giorgi
- Dieter Haerinck Software developer, designer and integrator · bevrijd.net
- Sabine
- Aendra Rininsland
- Gregor Böhler
- Ingo Radatz CDO · Kommunales Bildungswerk e.V.
- Frank Loock Volunteer · Freundeskreis Samson-Schule Wolfenbüttel
- Eric
- Oliver Andrich
- Niamh Mac Namara
- Peter Personn
- Anna Marwedel Biologist · EvoBrain
- Micah Blachman
- Dieter Delling
- Martin Gesslbauer
- Armin Zimmer
- Daniel Schmid
- Anna Maria Kirsch
- Flouvat
- Martin Hullin Director, · Bertelsmann Stiftung
- ralf tauscher freiburg.social e.V.
- tobias honert
- Max Retzlaff Junior Application Manager
- Nicolas Lorin
- Marco Arts
- Raphael Dürscheid
- Frank Zimmermann
- Matthias Berg Creative Consultant · BERG.WORKS
- Gregor Schädel
- Marcio Duarte AI Engineer
- Reinhold Klein
- Christoph Schmees Der PC-Flüsterer
- Oliver Spalt
- Daniel Lippe
- Pedro Miguel Oliveira da Silva
- Marc-Philipp Kittel Freelance Creative Director
- Joana Breidenbach Founder · Gut.org, brafe.space
- Catherina Steil
- Steven Langbroek Engineering Leader
- Giwan Software Eng. | Founder
- Jens Olaf Koch
- Sebastian Günnel founder · Institut für Wohnforschung
- Anna Bison Journalist / Digital Ethics
- Michel Lind
- Cadet Alexandra Mobilizon · Kaihuri
- Dennis Dierkes Software Engineer · Digital Service des Bundes
- Andy Schwab
- Helen Wullenweber Speaker · Volt Hamburg Women*
- Panagiotis Zimnas
- Lepczynski Stéphanie Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament
- Mareike Kühnel
- Saša Stanišić
- Jorge Luis Revilla Valdivia
- Graham Platt Doctor, retired
- Fabian Norden
- Matthias Thamling
- Jens Frick
- Mark Adams Moderator · toot.wales
- Jayne Samuel-Walker Moderator · toot.wales
- Olaf Bentkämper
- Diego Naranjo Independent consultant · www.diegonaranjo.eu
- Stefan Kellendonk
- Manuela Müller
- Anke Domscheit-Berg Tech Journalist, former MP (Deutscher Bundestag)
- Christopher Coenen
- Philipp Sickmann
- Andreas Wiese
- Tomislav Perisic
- Alexis Bushnell Moderator · Toot Wales
- Monika Wiedemann
- Lena Charistes
- Michele Pallmer
- Mathis
- Michel Jacquet Community enabler · Commonly
- Sebastian Raible political consultant · raible.be
- Thomas Westerholt
- Martin Rausch Martin Rausch
- Harald Rieder Prof. Dr. med.
- Stefano Figura
- Fermin Person
- Markus Mayer Dr.
- Tobias Gillen
- Philipp Heuberger Software Engineer
- Benedikt Gerst
- Aneta Baier
- Simon Kimmig
- Gerard C. L. Software Engineer
- Erik Lint head IDlab · Amsterdam University of the Arts
- Charlotte Echterhoff Dr.
- Martin Klinder
- Paulo Emanuel Novais Guimaraes
- Sean Gilis European Cultural Foundation
- Robert Viehoff
- Stéphane Bataillon Investor, journalist
- Lilian Dammann Founder
- Jorgen Karskens Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
- Ullrich Schäfer
- Nicholas Gool
- Pascal Guldener Computational linguist
- Paddy Corry Agile Coach
- Maximilian Petras Dr.
- Piotr Michna
- Geert-Jan Bogaerts
- Canat
- Pierre Fera
- Vianney Barbin
- Simone Vagnoni PhD researcher · University of Bologna
- Anaëlle Gonzalez Postdoctoral researcher · KU Leuven university
- Fouillet Aurélien enseignant-chercheur · centre de recherche en design
- Thomas Souverain Postdoctoral Researcher · ENS Ulm
- Didier Lefèvre-Houziel
- Nicolas Spatola
- Christina Schätz
- Jean Sauvignon Chier Data Officer · QuotaClimat
- Gilles Filippini
- Jan Tietje alias Sparfindig · JanTietje.de
- Yannick Jacquemart Director new flexibilities development · RTE
- Philippe Rioux Journalist
- Marion Ammicht
- Reiner Knudsen Software Engineer
- Thorben Kohler
- Audrey Tang Cyber Ambassador · Taiwan
- Margarete Benzing
- William Lowe Senior Research Scientist · Hertie School
- Benjamin Schmolck
- Jo K
- Thomas Park
- Ruth Habermehl
- Merve Kayıkçı
- Dumoulin Jean Teacher
- René Oelke foobugs
- Colin O'Brien Consult Colin
- Meldane #fediverse-francophone:matrix.org
- Max August Friend and promoter of free software and networks
- Thomas Piasta
- Caro sabrina
- Peter Mechels
- Ron van der Ende echobeach
- Orand
- Dr. Michael Strautmann AI Advisor
- Sabina Barcucci
- Gabriel Voelkner offline techy
- Louis Escher Software Engineer & Founder · Colibri Social
- Thomas Günther Medienbäcker
- Enrique Javier Benítez Palma Universidad de Córdoba
- Elouan Grimm
- Ton van der Liet
- Nicolas Tournery
- Hans-Jürgen Eichler
- z. blace practice based researcher/facilitator · Multimedia Institute, Zagreb
- Ralf Weber
- Yoshie Agata
- Daniel Moll Founder · Agentic Engineering
- Matthias Galm
- Viola Fohlmeister
- Tim Schofield
- Nathanaël Havez
- Stegfellner Markus
- Julian Sommer Founder · Harmoniq
- Florian Geyer
- Fabien Basmaison
- Nicolas Fressengeas Full Professor · Université de Lorraine
- Alexander Beer
- Björn Brembs Professor · Universität Regensburg
- Gonzalo Fernández Gómez gonzalofergo.com
- Antonio Blanco Villena Translator
- Ignacio Cartón
- Delphine Clement
- Alexander Degelmann Digitalstratege
- Pablo Martínez
- Mihai Todor Software Engineer · EMBL-EBI
- Antoine Vendeville Researcher · Sciences Po Paris
- Felicitas Weiß
- Georg Nowak
- Michael Campbell Mr
- Patricia Dekker
- Donald Waters
- Jake Dane
- Adam Hardy CyberspaceRoad
- Arkadiusz Wilamowski Data Engineer
- Clara Maguire Executive Director · The Citizens
- Marco Pagan Information Designer
- Christophe Henner Former chair · Wikimedia
- Laurens Hof Writer · Connected Places
- Theodor Baltus Steiner
- Willem van Linge
- Jukka-Pekka Ahonen Entrepreneur
Sign the declaration
Add your name.
Join 67 organisations and 445 individuals. All submissions are reviewed by an editor before appearing on the public list.
Submissions are reviewed by an editor before appearing on the public list. Your email and country are kept private.
Instagram Engineering
Shopify Engineering