Digital Sovereignty through Open Platforms

Europe’s digital public sphere today depends heavily on the infrastructure of a small number of global platform corporations. What once began as convenience has long since become a risk for security, the economy, and democracy. Neither regulation nor top-down ideas of a “European platform” have so far produced effective alternatives. Our project therefore asks: How can Germany become more independent in the information space—technologically, communicatively, and politically?

We are convinced that no dirigiste project will provide the solution. Instead, what is needed is smart innovation support that takes business models into account from the outset and strengthens open platforms and protocols beyond their current niche. Rather than building new monoliths, the goal is to systematically professionalize existing open-source solutions, communities, and infrastructures, make them interoperable, and bring them into the mainstream. “Scaling what works”: this is how a digital space for communication can emerge, fostering innovation, security, and democratic resilience alike in order to sustainably strengthen Europe’s capacity to act online.