The evolving Internet: from the Web3 era to the European Union's Web4 strategy

While the global debate remains polarized around Web3 and its implications for the digital future, the European Union has decided to look beyond, proposing a more inclusive and human-centered vision known as Web4. This evolution represents not only a technological advancement but also a recalibration of priorities in the digital economy, emphasizing social responsibility, data protection, and informed participation of ordinary users.

From Theory to Practice: What Web4 Will Mean

Web4 is the next evolutionary phase after Web2.0 and Web3.0, characterized by a clear goal: to inherit the technological robustness of Web3 while maintaining a primary focus on user experience and overall social impact. While previous decades saw the internet transform from an open ecosystem (Web1.0) to centralized platforms controlled by tech giants (Web2.0), and then to a decentralized wave based on blockchain (Web3.0), Web4 aims to find a balance between these seemingly opposing forces.

The core features of this new paradigm include users’ effective control over their personal data, decentralized infrastructures built on blockchain technology, tokenized economic incentive systems, strong protection of creators’ intellectual property rights, enhanced network security and anti-counterfeiting measures, constructive community engagement, and collective participation in governance processes. In short, Web4 embodies a vision of a redistributed internet where decision-making power no longer resides in the hands of a few corporations but is shared among end-users and organized communities.

The Crucial Divergence: Web3 vs. Web4

The differences between these two paradigms reflect fundamentally different priorities and strategies. While Web3 emphasizes decentralization and blockchain technology as ends in themselves, Web4 shifts focus toward accessibility and tangible value for the average user. Technically, Web3 relies mainly on cryptocurrencies and distributed architectures, whereas Web4 integrates multiple converging technologies: artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), extended reality, and virtual worlds.

Economically and commercially, Web3 pursues models based on tokens and cryptocurrency mechanisms, while Web4 envisions a fusion of blockchain innovation with traditional business models, aiming for sustainable long-term profitability. An additional divergence appears in attitudes toward regulation: Web3 leans toward an anti-regulatory, libertarian ideology, whereas Web4 is expected to confront significant levels of government oversight. Regarding risk management, Web3 delegates protection to algorithmic code, while Web4 emphasizes platform social responsibility in safeguarding citizens from potential harm. Finally, Web3 remains in an early experimental phase with many obstacles to overcome, whereas Web4 represents a future vision built on Web3 foundations but more mature and user-friendly.

The European Union’s Strategic Positioning

The European Commission has published a comprehensive plan deliberately extending beyond Web3, choosing instead to focus on the Web4 framework. This strategic terminology responds to a relevant market reality: surveys conducted by YouGov and Consensys show that only 8% of the European population truly understands the concept of Web3, suggesting that the term itself is a communication barrier for the masses.

The Commission defines Web4 as the synergistic convergence of artificial intelligence, IoT, blockchain technology, immersive virtual environments, and extended reality capabilities. The European approach is structured around ten main strategic axes: first, maintaining cautious vigilance regarding privacy and security risks inherited from Web3.0 experience; second, implementing calibrated supervision rather than full deregulation; third, applying critical lessons from Web2.0 to guide development through agreed standards; fourth, protecting minors and vulnerable communities from harmful content; fifth, strengthening platform responsibility in moderating user-generated content; sixth, institutionalizing identity authentication systems to ensure traceability and accountability; seventh, promoting sovereign control over personal data; eighth, continuously balancing innovation stimulation with risk mitigation; ninth, systematically incorporating stakeholder input into decision-making processes; tenth, building a digital ecosystem based on principles of responsibility and sustainability.

Concrete Challenges in Regulating Web4

Guiding the evolution of Web4 through European regulation presents significant complexities. First, although the EU maintains a generally cautious stance toward emerging technologies like Web3 and the metaverse, there is heterogeneity of views among member states, complicating coordination. The Union shares the view that Web3 has overly focused on technical aspects, neglecting social risks and potential negative externalities.

The Commission believes active oversight is necessary to prevent critical issues such as privacy violations, harm to minors, online hate speech, and economic power concentration. The ongoing digital services legislation will require internet and social media companies to assume significantly greater responsibilities than before. The European strategy explicitly builds on the negative lessons of Web2.0, where lack of oversight allowed monopolistic platforms with devastating social impacts to emerge.

A relevant geopolitical factor is that the EU’s regulatory approach to Web4 could serve as a model for other global jurisdictions, amplifying European influence. However, this exposes the Union to opposing pressures: the need to reconcile divergent national interests internally, the uncertainty caused by rapid technological innovation, and the ongoing challenge of fostering entrepreneurial creativity without sacrificing essential civil protections.

Overall, the EU appears considerably more concerned about social impacts and potential risks of Web3 than profit-driven tech companies, pushing it toward proactive regulatory intervention in shaping Web4’s architecture. Although the path is long and uncertain, it is clear that a reconfiguration of the global digital economy regulatory framework is taking shape. Europe’s experience in governing Web4 will likely become a critical reference point for regulations that other countries will implement in the coming years, making this a crucial phase in defining the future of the internet as a whole.