This special episode features the recording of a webinar hosted by the Future of Technology Institute on March 21st, exploring the urgent need for a more open, competitive, and user-controlled social media ecosystem. Moderated by Sherif Elsayed-Ali, the conversation brings together three influential voices shaping the future of the web:
Marietje Schaake – Former MEP, international policy expert, and Stanford fellow
Emily Liu – Head of Special Projects at Blue Sky
Robin Berjon – Eurostack initiative and co-steward of Free Our Feeds
Together, they examine the geopolitical urgency of building European tech alternatives, the vision behind Blue Sky and the AT Protocol, and how to build resilient, pluralistic infrastructure for a democratic digital future.
Topics Covered:
Why Europe needs its own tech stack and social media infrastructure
The challenges of centralized social platforms and billionaire ownership
Blue Sky’s interoperable, user-first design approach
Free Our Feeds and the push for algorithmic pluralism
Digital infrastructure as a matter of sovereignty and democratic governance
Practical pathways to make the “Open Web Economy” a reality
Key Takeaways:
Social media isn’t just media—it’s infrastructure with societal consequences.
Interoperability and user control are key to breaking platform lock-in.
Policy, design, and user experience must converge to enable scalable alternatives.
🔗 Mentioned in the episode:
White paper: The Open Web Economy – Available at futureinstitute.tech