Europe’s ‘W’ Social Network Takes Aim at X Amid Push for Digital Independence

The new social network ‘W’, launched by Swedish startup W Social AB at the World Economic Forum in Davos, positions itself as a European alternative to American platforms. It requires users to verify their identity with government-issued IDs before posting, a measure that raises concerns about privacy and participation. Despite promises of stronger privacy and free speech, nearly half of Europeans are uncomfortable with this identification requirement.