Web4: How the European Union is Redefining the Future of the Internet

The evolution of the Internet has followed a clear trajectory. After the Web 1.0 era—where content was accessible but created by few—came Web 2.0, where major tech platforms centralized control. Now, dissatisfied with this concentration of power, a new paradigm emerges: Web 4, a proposal that aims to go beyond technical decentralization to truly empower users. The European Union has not only followed this trend but has taken the lead with a comprehensive strategy that integrates technology, regulation, and social responsibility.

What is Web4 and how does it differ from Web3?

While Web3 emphasizes decentralization through blockchain and cryptocurrencies, Web4 represents a more sophisticated evolution. It’s not just about replacing intermediaries with code but creating an ecosystem where technology genuinely serves end users.

The European Commission defines Web4 as the convergence of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, virtual worlds, and extended reality capabilities. In other words, Web4 inherits the technical advantages of Web3 but integrates them with emerging technologies to enhance the real user experience.

The fundamental differences are significant:

Focus and priorities: Web3 prioritizes decentralized technology; Web4 emphasizes user experience and social impact. While Web3 seeks to eliminate intermediaries, Web4 aims for intermediaries to be responsible.

Technical means: Web3 is built on blockchain and crypto-economics. Web4 also incorporates artificial intelligence and semantic web to make systems smarter and more intuitive.

Value proposition: Web3 offers decentralized networks. Web4 offers real participation and tangible benefits for ordinary users, not just technologists.

Stage of maturity: Web3 is still in an experimental phase with unresolved issues. Web4 is a vision built on a more mature Web3 foundation.

Economic models: Web3 depends on tokens and crypto-economics. Web4 may combine these mechanisms with sustainable traditional models.

The Web4 strategy of the European Union

The European Union has adopted a pragmatic approach to Web4. Unlike Silicon Valley, which tends toward deregulation, the EU believes that new technologies require clear frameworks from the outset. According to a survey conducted by YouGov and Consensys, only 8% of the European population felt familiar with concepts like Web3, highlighting the gap between technical complexity and public understanding. This makes regulation even more urgent.

The pillars of the EU’s Web4 strategy are clear:

Privacy and security as a foundation: The EU has taken note of data issues in Web2. In Web4, users must maintain full control over their personal data, not delegate it to third parties.

Smart oversight: It’s not about laissez-faire, but nor about total restriction. The EU seeks regulatory frameworks that allow innovation while protecting users.

Clear standards: The EU will learn from Web2’s mistakes—where platforms created monopolies—to establish interoperable standards from the start of Web4.

Protection of vulnerable groups: Specific safeguards for minors should be implemented, preventing harmful content and ensuring identity authentication.

Corporate responsibility: Platforms will be responsible for user-generated content and must maintain traceability systems through real-name authentication.

Balance of innovation and risk: Regulation does not aim to stifle innovation but to create predictable conditions where companies can grow responsibly.

Challenges facing European Web4 regulation

However, the EU’s path is not straightforward. Several layers of complexity exist:

Internal diversity: Member states have varied perspectives on emerging technologies like metaverses and Web3, though generally they share caution.

Technological perception: The EU rightly believes that Web3 has focused too much on the technology itself without considering potential risks or social impacts.

Regulatory complexity: The new Digital Services Act requires internet platforms and social networks to assume greater responsibilities, but its implementation demands ongoing interpretation and adjustments.

Learning from the past: The EU is determined not to repeat Web2’s mistakes—where tech giants consolidated power without checks. This historical learning drives measures some see as restrictive.

Global scope: European regulatory decisions on Web4 will likely influence other countries and regions, creating pressure for international alignment or trade tensions.

Technological uncertainty: Technology evolves faster than regulation. Legal frameworks must be flexible enough to adapt without becoming obsolete.

Conflicting interests: Reconciling demands from startups, large corporations, users, and governments requires complex negotiations.

Web4 in perspective: An ongoing regulatory revolution

The true innovation of the EU is not technical but regulatory. While Web3 asked, “How can we decentralize?”, Web4 under European vision asks, “How do we decentralize responsibly?”

This approach is shaping a new order in digital economy regulation. The EU does not seek to control Web4 but to guide its development toward socially beneficial outcomes. Its experience—including mistakes—will serve as a crucial reference for other countries designing their own Web4 strategies.

Change is happening. The next decade will determine whether Web4 repeats Web2’s problems or truly evolves into a more human, responsible, and decentralized Internet.