February 5, 2026 – In a landscape dominated by data-hungry platforms, a new contender has emerged with a clear mission: put users back in control. Today, Arteo – Social Sovereignty Network made its debut on Product Hunt, positioning itself as a minimalist, privacy-first alternative to mainstream social media.
Founded and built solo by Gia Huy, Arteo arrives with the bold tagline: “Your data is yours. No surveillance capitalism.”
In his maker introduction on the launch page, Gia Huy shared: “Hey Product Hunt! 👋 I’m Gia Huy, founder of Arteo. I built this because I was tired of being the product on traditional social media.”
The platform’s core philosophy stems from frustration with how big tech exploits user data for profit, manipulates feeds for maximum engagement, and erodes personal privacy. Arteo aims to reverse that by building on three foundational principles:
- Privacy by design – No unnecessary data collection, no tracking, and absolute user control over personal information.
- No algorithmic manipulation – Feeds remain chronological and authentic, prioritizing genuine interactions over addictive engagement farming.
- User sovereignty – Your social graph (connections, friends, data) belongs entirely to you, with easy export options and full ownership.
Key highlights from the launch include:
- Ad-free experience – Users are not the product; there’s no revenue from selling attention or data.
- End-to-end encryption for private messages.
- Lightweight and fast design focused on real human connection.
- GDPR compliant with plans for decentralized architecture in the future.
Arteo is free to use, with no premium tiers or hidden costs tied to user exploitation. The project is still in its very early stages—launching today with minimal followers (just 2 noted shortly after going live)—but it taps into a growing demand for alternatives amid rising concerns over data privacy, mental health impacts from algorithmic feeds, and centralized control.
The Product Hunt page invites feedback directly from the community, signaling an open, iterative approach typical of indie launches. While engagement is low at the moment (as expected for a brand-new drop), the niche of privacy-centric social tools remains hot, with users increasingly seeking options beyond the usual suspects.
For those ready to explore a surveillance-free social experience, head to the official site via the Product Hunt link: https://arteosocial.com/?ref=producthunt
As Gia Huy puts it in the maker story: “We’re starting small but thinking big. This is just the beginning of reclaiming digital freedom.”
Whether Arteo gains traction will depend on community support, feature rollouts, and real-world adoption—but in an era of increasing digital skepticism, its uncompromising stance on privacy could resonate strongly with early adopters.
Stay tuned for updates as this indie project evolves. Have you tried it yet, or are you watching from the sidelines?
(This article is based on the live Product Hunt launch details as of February 5, 2026. Metrics and features may evolve rapidly in the coming days.)
