The past month has been a wild ride in the digital world. The influence of U.S.-based technology has long shaped our reality, but we're now seeing the real destruction of that model. From surveillance and censorship to monopolistic platforms and regulatory chaos, we’re watching the digital status quo crumble in real time.
While that feels overwhelming, it also opens space for questioning, building differently, and for imagining futures that don’t just patch over broken systems, but move beyond them entirely.
At Acter, we’re thinking about these issues more urgently and deeply than ever before. This isn’t just background noise for us; it’s shaping how we build, who we work with, and what kind of digital future we want to be see.
We believe this critical moment demands critical reflection, creating bold alternatives, and shared responsibility. We don’t have all the answers, but we’re committed to asking the right questions, and acting on what we learn.
Thank you for being in this journey with us.
Here’s what you’ll find in this issue:
🚀 Product News
📰 Article
🎙️ Podcast Talk
Product News - New Generation Chat 💬📱
We know chat stability and speed matter, especially when you're trying to connect in real time. Some of the bugs and hiccups you’ve experienced in the past weren’t just surface issues, but, they were rooted in the deeper infrastructure.
The good news? You might already know that our New Generation Chat has been in the Labs for a while. (Labs means you can already use it by switching it on in the Labs settings.) The tech team has been working hard behind the scenes, and we’re soon transitioning to a new, better infrastructure. This change is a big step forward more smooth user experience, and will unlock noticeable improvements to come:
⚡ Faster overall performance
🔔 More consistent and timely notifications
📥 Quicker loading of conversations and content
🛡️ Better system stability and fewer unexpected crashes
🎨 Improved design with cleaner, more intuitive layout
Thank you for your patience and sticking with us. We're excited to bring you a better, more reliable experience very soon!
Article: Why Europe (and Philanthropy) Must Start Funding the Internet We Actually Want
Can we truly reclaim our digital future if we’re only regulating the platforms that control it — and not building the ones we want instead?
Our Executive Director, Emil Vincentz explores this question in our latest piece, which you can read here.
If you have time only for a small recap...
The EU has led the way in regulating Big Tech through landmark policies like GDPR and the Digital Markets Act. But while it’s policing the digital giants, it remains deeply reliant on them: from Google and Meta to Microsoft and Amazon.
Regulation alone, won’t break this dependency. We are missing investment in public digital infrastructure. Projects like Matrix and Acter are can already offer viable, open-source alternatives, but they lack the capital and support to scale.
Philanthropy and policymakers have largely overlooked this need. Despite digital systems underpinning modern civil society, funding for digital equity remains under 1%. Without robust, democratic infrastructure, the most vulnerable communities are left exposed.
Europe must build — investing in open, interoperable tech ecosystems that serve people, not profits. The digital future depends not just on what we fight against, but what we choose to build.
Acter on Progress Reimagined Podcast 🎙️
We had the pleasure of being interviewed by Kathleen Chu for her podcast Progress Reimagined! Progress Reimagined explores innovative ideas, technologies, and emerging economic models that put humanity and our planet first.
Listen and watch below the great conversation about the challenges of digital organizing in an era of increased authoritarianism, the importance of secure and accessible tools, and how decentralized technology can help preserve activist spaces.
We'd Love to Hear From You 💭🗣️
Are you an organizer, activist, or tech enthusiast, interested being featured in our podcast? We are always looking for new interesting guests sharing about digital organizing and beyond.
Or do you have any thoughts, questions, and experiences that could help shape what we build and how we grow? If you have feedback about the app, podcast, newsletter, or something else, we’re always grateful to hear it.
You can reach out directly in the Acter App, via Acter Community channel, or, at news@acter.global.
Until next time!