Waag launches Oso.social as Wtta staffing registration opens

Amsterdam research institute Waag Futurelab has launched Oso.social, a social media platform where users decide for themselves what appears on their timeline. According to Computable, the launch was one of several technology stories this week, alongside new registration rules for Dutch staffing firms and a Swiss tech company tying jobs to the use of artificial intelligence.

What happened

Computable reports that Waag Futurelab presented the first version of Oso.social this week during Dutch Design Week. The Amsterdam institute wants to offer an alternative to the platforms run by large technology companies, whose algorithms and use of personal data are under growing criticism. Oso.social is built on open protocols and is designed to give users more control over their data and their feeds. It is also meant to stop any single party from banning users at will.

Waag was founded in 1994 and, according to Computable, has spent thirty years working towards a sustainable and fair society. The institute studies the social impact of technology and works with citizens and organisations to develop alternatives based on public values. Users and organisations can now join a public test phase and help build the platform. A beta version is planned for January.

The same news roundup covers a change that matters for anyone working through an employment agency. From 1 November, companies that lend out staff can register for the transition scheme under the Wet toelating terbeschikkingstelling van arbeidskrachten (Wtta), the new Dutch law on admission for labour providers. Registration runs until 31 December 2026. Companies that register in time and meet the conditions may continue lending out staff even if their admission has not yet been completed. The law applies to employment agencies, secondment firms, payroll companies and organisations that only occasionally lend out staff.

Computable cites the Dutch Labour Market Authority for Staffing (Nederlandse Autoriteit Uitleenmarkt, NAU), which says a third of staffing companies are not yet aware of the new obligations. Registration requires eHerkenning and a business Berichtenbox. In 2027, companies must then apply for admission. From 2028, clients also risk fines if they hire staff through providers that have not been admitted.

On artificial intelligence in the workplace, Computable reports, citing the AD, that Swiss technology company Proton, known for ProtonMail and Proton Meet, is threatening to dismiss employees who cannot show clearly enough how they use AI in their work. The information comes from an internal memo that the company made public on Reddit. Proton is holding talks with staff to assess how AI is used in daily tasks. Employees must give concrete examples of applications, results and lessons learned, and explain how their role is developing. The talks may lead to changes in roles, responsibilities and the length of employment contracts. Proton stresses that the review is not a disguised round of redundancies and says it is looking for talent that can help shape its new AI direction.

Two business software stories complete the roundup. At its SuiteWorld conference in Las Vegas, Oracle NetSuite announced AI agents for its ERP platform, including more than 45 SuiteSkills to teach AI systems business knowledge, a SuiteAgent Studio for building custom agents and an expanded Ask Oracle assistant. NetSuite says it serves more than 44,000 customers worldwide. Separately, investor Main Capital Partners is taking a majority stake in 4Allportal, a German product information software supplier based in Gütersloh with more than a hundred business clients and over a hundred thousand users. Main manages around twelve billion euros in assets.

Why it matters if you live in Netherlands

For social media users. Oso.social is a Dutch-built option for people who want more say over their feed and their personal data. Because the platform is in a public test phase, residents and organisations can sign up now and help shape it, according to Computable. Anyone who has worried about losing an account to a single company’s decision may find the design against arbitrary bans relevant.

For agency and payroll workers. Many internationals in the Netherlands work through employment agencies, secondment firms or payroll companies. The Wtta transition scheme affects whether those firms can keep placing staff. If a third of firms are still unaware of the rules, as the NAU says, it is worth asking your agency whether it plans to register before the 31 December 2026 deadline.

For business owners and freelancers who hire. Companies that bring in workers through a staffing provider will face possible fines from 2028 if that provider lacks admission. Computable notes that businesses can use a decision tool to check whether they fall under the Wtta. Registration needs eHerkenning and a business Berichtenbox, so firms without them should arrange both in good time.

For tech workers. The Proton memo shows how some employers are starting to treat AI use as part of performance reviews. Proton is a Swiss company, and Computable does not say whether the policy affects staff in the Netherlands, but it signals a trend that tech workers here may meet in their own jobs.

What to watch next

Oso.social’s beta version is due in January, which will show whether the public test phase attracts enough users and organisations to make the platform viable. For the Wtta, the registration window opens on 1 November and closes on 31 December 2026, followed by admission applications in 2027. Workers and clients will want to see how many staffing firms register in time. At Proton, the outcome of the staff talks will indicate whether the AI review leads to role changes or dismissals in practice.

Source: Computable