EU backs €500 million launch of W to rival X; beta slated by February

European Union institutions and allied policymakers are supporting a €500 million initiative to launch W, a regulated social platform positioned as an alternative to Elon Musk's X. The beta is expected by February, with mandatory identity checks, strict moderation, and EU-based data hosting among core requirements. The public rollout is planned for later in the year, according to the project's leaders.