L’envoi d’une vidéo d’iOS à Android (et vice versa) en utilisant l’application de messagerie texte habituelle se termine par la réception à l’autre bout d’un contenu flou. C’est à cause de l’incompatibilité entre le protocole RCS dont Google fait la promotion et iMessage d’Apple. Tim Cook reste fermé à l’idée de l’adoption de RCS malgré les appels de Google. Apple ne veut non plus mettre iMessage à disposition des utilisateurs d’Android. Tim Cook semble plutôt suggérer à tout le monde de faire l’acquisition d’un iPhone pour résoudre le problème.

Interoperability is one of the original design principles underpinning the internet, and largely responsible for its scale and unique properties. In recent years, it has also been increasingly seen as a policy measure that can introduce greater market competition and user choice. Important, and contentious interoperability proposals are included in key European digital regulations, including the Digital Markets Act and the Data Act.

On 22 March, we launched our new report, written together with the Commons Network, on “Generative Interoperability. Building online public and civic spaces”. For that, we organized an event, hosted by Sophie Bloemen (Commons Network) and Alek Tarkowski (Open Future). Our two guests were Amandine Le Pape (COO and co-founder of Element, co-founder and Guardian of the Matrix Foundation) and Ian Brown (visiting CyberBRICS Professor at FGV Law School).

Both of our guest experts have been advocating for strong interoperability measures. In conversation, we discussed the role that interoperability should play in the digital ecosystems that Europe is building and regulating. And we also explored different means, also non-regulatory, needed to achieve this.