The EU Is Going Through a Trump-Fueled Breakup With Big Tech

France is accelerating digital sovereignty efforts to reduce reliance on US technology amid concerns about data security, political unpredictability, and pricing. The French government is developing and deploying its own technology for government officials, including the homegrown video-calling platform Visio. More than 40,000 French government staff have started using Visio, with remaining staff moving away from Zoom and Microsoft Teams by 2027. Central government agencies and the civil service plan to shift toward French, European, and open-source alternatives. The goal is to maintain control over the technology used and avoid dependence on a single external provider that can dictate usage.

"Over the last few months, the French government has sped up its efforts to develop and deploy its own technology for government officials. The country has, arguably, emerged at the head of Europe's growing digital sovereignty push, which aims to cut some reliance on US-based technology over concerns around data security, the Trump administration's unpredictability, and changing prices. French budget minister David Amiel recently called for the state to "break free" from American systems and use those it can control."

"So far, more than 40,000 French government staff have started using the home-grown video platform, while the rest will move away from Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and others by 2027. "We are confident enough to use it every day and we are not dependent on just one actor that will tell us you have to use my video conference," Schaer says."

"Across France's central government agencies and vast civil service, officials plan to shift to as many French, European, and open source technology alternatives as possible in the coming years. Schaer says it is important for the French government to be in control of the technology that it is using, with dat"

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