EU must shift from 'platforms' to 'protocols' to break Big Tech monopolies

The European Union must fundamentally redefine its understanding of social networks to escape the structural grip of American tech giants. Jean Cattan, Counsel at FOTI, argues that shifting the regulatory lens from "platforms" to "networks" based on open protocols is the only way to dismantle existing technical monopolies.

Writing for Euractiv, Cattan contends that the current regulatory mindset reinforces the idea of centralized control over data, interfaces, and algorithms. He advocates for a framework that allows third-party applications and services to plug directly into existing platforms. This approach would transition Europe toward a digital ecosystem defined by common-pool resources, self-hosted infrastructure, and democratic governance rather than corporate dictates.

The precedent for interoperability

This is not a new regulatory concept, but rather a return to successful historical strategies. Cattan points to the EU's enforcement of interoperability on Microsoft Windows in the early 2000s as a primary precedent. That intervention broke the operating system's stranglehold, directly enabling the rise of competing media players and web browsers by ensuring they could function within the dominant environment.

Currently, users rely on fragmented workarounds to regain control of their digital lives. Cattan cites "One Sec," an app designed to help users reduce screen time, as an example of the current limitation. While useful, such tools lack true interoperability and remain entirely dependent on the goodwill of the platforms they attempt to modify.

The path to digital autonomy

This shift is critical as Europe faces increasing structural dependency on U.S. tech firms amid rising political tensions and threats of tariffs over digital services taxes. Cattan suggests that simply launching alternative services, such as Bluesky or Mastodon, is insufficient if the underlying "platform narrative" remains the dominant regulatory standard.

By treating social networks as protocols rather than closed platforms, the EU could enable "radical personalization." This would prevent a handful of dominant actors from controlling the essential digital infrastructure of European society, allowing users to choose their own interfaces and tools without abandoning their social networks.

Breaking the monolith

According to Cattan, "Breaking the monolith matters as much as building alongside it, because a monolith traps, attracts, and exerts a magnetic pull." The goal is to move away from a world where a few companies act as the sole gatekeepers of digital interaction.

What remains to be seen is whether the EU will integrate this protocol-based philosophy into its broader legislative framework. Until the regulatory focus shifts from managing platforms to enforcing protocol-level interoperability, the technical monopolies of Big Tech are likely to persist.