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Shaping Europe's Web4 future

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Web 4.0 and virtual worlds

Web4 Europe

The Fourth Web

The internet is becoming intelligent.

Web4 is where artificial intelligence, decentralised trust, extended reality and ambient computing converge. Web4 Europe unites policymakers, businesses and experts to build an open, secure, trustworthy and inclusive Web 4.0 — in line with the European Commission's strategy on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds.

Humanoid figure built from light particles representing the convergence of AI, blockchain and XR

Policy areas

The four pillars of Web 4.0

Each pillar is reshaping how we work, create and connect. Together they form the architecture of the next internet.

Artificial Intelligence

Machines that learn, reason and create — developed in line with the EU AI Act.

Web3

Blockchain

Trustless coordination and programmable value for citizens and businesses.

XR / VR

Extended Reality

Virtual worlds and spatial computing for work, learning and presence.

IoT

Internet of Things

An ambient mesh of sensors and intelligence across the single market.

Two futures

Web4 can be exciting — or scary

The same technologies that promise breakthroughs across every sector also carry real risks. The path Europe chooses now will decide which future arrives.

Opportunities

Healthcare
Remote personalised and predictive care, secure data sharing, AI-assisted diagnostics and surgery.
Social & entertainment
Immersive interactive experiences blending augmented reality with tailored social content.
Democracy
Transparent voting, data-driven policy, better crisis management and cross-border collaboration.
Environment
Efficient AI resource management, advanced analytics, energy optimisation and virtual education.
Businesses
Improved efficiency, predictive maintenance, stronger security and faster innovation.

Risks

Healthcare
Technology failures, interoperability gaps, privacy issues, overreliance and overdiagnosis.
Social & entertainment
Excessive virtual immersion increasing isolation, fragmentation and addictive behaviours.
Democracy
AI-generated misinformation, deepfakes and hyper-personalisation eroding trust.
Environment
Greater resource extraction, energy use and e-waste, and less contact with nature.
Businesses
Security vulnerabilities, privacy breaches and scalability issues for workers and consumers.

A trusted entity

A balance between digital freedom and digital security

For Europe to remain competitive, a true Web4 strategy must balance appropriate regulation with technical openness. Our mission is to unite politicians, businesses and experts to build a Web4 ecosystem that benefits all.

“The European Commission has adopted a new strategy on Web 4.0 to steer the next technological transition and ensure an open, secure, trustworthy, inclusive and fair digital environment for EU citizens, public administrations and businesses.”
EU strategy to lead on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds, July 2023
Read more on the Commission's website

Europe needs you

Leverage the community

Web4 Europe is driving the European Web4 Messaging Protocol (EWMP) — enabling messages to seamlessly traverse physical sensors, AI systems, virtual environments and blockchain networks, built to European standards.

Imagine a chat-as-platform with all the features of today's messaging apps that can also communicate with a bot, machine or avatar — built and secured with EWMP in Europe.

Web4 Europe has joined Telecom Valley, a leading French Tech association, to accelerate the EWMP project within the European Commission.

Join the community

IoT

Sensors

Connect the physical world.

Agents

Bots that act on your behalf.

Avatars

Presence across virtual spaces.

Web3

Trust

Verifiable, secure messaging.

EWMP — European Web4 Messaging Protocol. Made in the EU.

Time for Europe to lead

From static pages to a symbiotic web

Each era of the internet has been shaped by a handful of dominant players. Web4 is the first chapter where Europe is positioned to take the lead.

Static Web

Web1

Users read and share information over static pages.

AOL · USA
Yahoo · USA
Microsoft · USA
PayPal · USA
Amazon · USA

Social Web

Web2

Users read, write and communicate with each other.

Facebook · USA
Amazon · USA
Google · USA
TikTok · China
Spotify · Europe

Semantic Web

Web3

Machines generate rich, decentralised real-time data.

ChatGPT · USA
Meta · USA
Binance · China
Sorare · Europe
Ledger · Europe

Symbiotic Web

Web4

Humans and machines interact in symbiosis.

Coinbase · USA
Tencent · China
Sandbox · Europe
Bosch · Europe
MistralAI · Europe

Get in touch

Let's build Web4 together

Policymakers, founders, researchers and builders — send us a message. We read every one.