I'm appalled to see the European Commission apparently embracing closed source, commercial, ID and age verification mandatory, social media today - in the very face of the technology sovereignty and online freedoms debates.

I think they've just thrown away the greatest opportunity to be the champion of all things open and collaborative, and to live and demonstrate their own values. Incredibly disappointed.

🔥 🔥 from @_elena who nails it, and asks crucial questions.

https://blog.elenarossini.com/w-social-public-institutions-and-the-theater-of-european-digital-sovereignty/

W seems for Boomers who don't get tech?

🤑 for-profit
🔒 now closed source?
🕵️ may use your data to train AI
🦹‍♂️ dodgy tech bro on the Board
🪪 needs govt ID verification & face scanning
🤖 40 million existing ATP users are NOT verified

Building EU Big Tech won't save democracy!

h/t @_elena

https://blog.elenarossini.com/the-untold-story-about-w-social-unconventional-beginnings-strategic-pitches-conflicting-signals/

Mit W Social ist ein soziales Netzwerk gestartet, bei dem man sich nur nach Passkontrolle anmelden kann. Das ist keine gute Idee. Überhaupt spricht einiges dagegen, sich bei dem schwedischen Startup einen Account zuzulegen. Ein Kommentar.

https://netzpolitik.org/2026/soziale-netzwerke-warum-w-social-mehr-kalter-kaffee-als-heisser-scheiss-ist/

RE: https://ec.social-network.europa.eu/@EUCommission/116766280029168108

"W" - named after Musk's fascist platform X. Cringe. - is a closed protocol, for-profit, tech bro walled garden that's EXACTLY the kind of social media that made this mess.

I'm utterly disgusted to see the European Commission supporting it and amplifying it. Today, EC President von der Leyen endorsed W on its launch. She never did that for Eurosky!

It's predictable that the rightwing EPP would align with a closed, billionaire fantasy social media platform, but it is sickening to see EC do it

This is awesome!

https://neal.fun/cursor-camp/

#nealfun