Kyndryl takeover of Solvinity leads to Dutch sovereignty scare

"The announcement that Solvinity is being acquired by the American company Kyndryl has sparked an unusually heated debate in the Netherlands about digital autonomy and the vulnerability of public infrastructure. The news hit Amsterdam particularly hard, as its municipality had only just signed a contract with Solvinity to modernize its digital services. That choice was made deliberately in order to work with a Dutch company that, according to the city, would contribute to greater control over its own digital systems."

"Amsterdam alderman Alexander Scholtes, responsible for Digitization, Services, and Information Provision, said that Amsterdam had chosen Solvinity precisely because it is a national player that, in the municipality's view, plays a role in increasing the city's digital independence. He said that the late announcement was considered particularly unfortunate and that the municipality is now investigating the consequences of the new ownership situation for the contract and the protection of public interests."

Solvinity's acquisition by U.S. company Kyndryl has intensified debate in the Netherlands about digital autonomy and public infrastructure vulnerability. Amsterdam recently signed a contract with Solvinity to modernize municipal digital services and chose the company to increase control over its digital systems. The municipality learned of the takeover one day before the announcement and is investigating contractual consequences and protection of public interests. Officials warn the timing is problematic because Solvinity's services affect municipal processes and sensitive data flows. The government uses Solvinity for national systems such as MijnOverheid, and policy specialists cite the US CLOUD Act as creating renewed fears of foreign data access.

Read at Techzine Global