A new social media platform, ‘W’, has launched in beta, aiming to compete directly with X (formerly Twitter). Developed by a Swedish team, ‘W’ is built on the decentralized Bluesky protocol and prioritizes data storage within the European Union. The platform emphasizes user authentication through human verification to combat bot activity and enhance security. This initiative seeks to bolster the EU’s technological sovereignty and offer a European alternative in the social media landscape. ‘W’ distinguishes itself by focusing on a fully European infrastructure and governance model. The platform’s initial phase is a testing period to refine functionality and user experience before a wider release. It represents a growing effort to establish independent, secure, and ethically-focused social networks within Europe.