Element

About

Element is a UK-based open-source messaging platform built on the Matrix decentralised protocol, developed by New Vector Ltd. Because Matrix is federated, organisations can run their own Element server (Synapse or Dendrite) on EU infrastructure and communicate with any other Matrix server globally, without routing messages through a central provider. Element offers end-to-end encryption via the Matrix Olm/Megolm protocol, cross-signing for device verification, spaces for channel organisation, and bridges to Slack, Teams, Discord, IRC, and other networks. Element is used by the French government (Tchap), German public sector, and many EU government agencies as a sovereign alternative to Microsoft Teams. The server component is open-source under Apache 2.0.