On March 4, the Moderates held a conference where they discussed the advantages and disadvantages of a European alternative to Facebook, Instagram, X, and other social platforms owned by American tech companies. According to the Moderates, democracy is under pressure because the democratic infrastructure is placed in the hands of a small group of people who feel no obligation to serve anything other than their own financial interests.
Lisbeth Knudsen, Strategy Director at the think tank Mandag Morgen and head of the ADD project’s outreach efforts, participated in the debate, which also highlighted some of the challenges related to developing a European social media platform:
- How can it be funded?
- How can Europeans be encouraged to switch platforms?
- Who should own and operate the platform?
- What should the business model be if algorithms are not to be the driving force?
Following the debate, Minister of Digitalization Caroline Stage and Minister of Research and Education Christina Egelund proposed putting a European social media platform out to tender in Dagbladet Politiken. The article is behind a paywall.