Relaunched Dutch Social Network Hyves Criticised for Relying on US Technology
Amsterdam, Sunday 27 September 2026
Despite promoting itself as a champion of European digital sovereignty, the newly relaunched Dutch platform Hyves faces heavy criticism for its deep reliance on United States technology infrastructure.
The Illusion of European Sovereignty
On Tuesday, 22 September 2026, parent company Mediahuis and De Telegraaf officially relaunched Hyves, nearly 13 years after the platform’s original closure [1][2]. Positioned as a secure, European alternative designed to counter addictive, US-based social media giants, the platform enjoyed immediate public interest, racking up an impressive 250,000 sign-ups within its first 48 hours [1]. This initial surge translates to a rapid acquisition rate of approximately 5208.333 new users per hour during the launch window. However, this early momentum has been overshadowed by revelations concerning the platform’s actual technological backbone [1].
Under the Hood of the Tech Stack
An investigative report published by Follow the Money (FTM) on Friday, 25 September 2026, revealed that despite executive assertions that the platform was built entirely on European software ‘for safety and certainty’, Hyves remains deeply dependent on United States technology infrastructure [1][3]. While the platform does host its primary databases on European soil using the French cloud provider Scaleway, critical background operations are outsourced to American firms [1]. For instance, the user sign-in system relies on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and FusionAuth, an American identity management provider [1]. Additionally, Mailgun, a company based in Texas, processes system communications, welcome emails, and password resets, while default typography is pulled directly from Google Fonts [1].
The Scalability Dilemma and Regulatory Realities
This operational setup highlights the persistent challenges European software companies face when trying to scale services without leveraging established US Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and cloud infrastructure [GPT]. While Hyves seeks to distance itself from ‘Big Tech’ and its addictive algorithms, observers note that its underlying business model does not fundamentally differ from the platforms it aims to replace [5]. Building a modern social network requires highly scalable, secure, and reliable microservices, which are currently dominated by American providers [GPT]. This technical reality often forces European startups to compromise on their sovereignty goals to ensure operational efficiency [GPT].
A Platform ‘In Spirit, Completely European’
In the wake of the FTM investigation, Mediahuis adapted its public messaging [1]. A spokesperson defending the platform on BNR Nieuwsradio argued that Hyves is still ‘in spirit, completely European’ [1][4]. The parent company maintained that because core consumer data remains hosted within Europe and is legally bound by European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) frameworks, the platform’s privacy integrity is preserved [1][4]. Nevertheless, the reliance on US-managed tools for sign-ins and communications continues to fuel debate among privacy advocates and European tech policy experts regarding where European digital sovereignty begins and ends [GPT].