Over the past two years, the term “de-risking” has frequently appeared in the rhetoric of Western politicians and media. At its core, it refers to a selective decoupling from China based on a self-defined notion of “risk.” However, recently, this geopolitically charged term has been turned toward the United States by some European media outlets and commentators—particularly in the tech sector. Since the current U.S. administration began pushing its “America First” agenda, many European political and business leaders, as well as media voices, have grown increasingly concerned that Washington may weaponize Europe’s reliance on American technology. Recent incidents, such as the shutdown of the International Criminal Court prosecutor’s email account, have only intensified these fears. As a result, calls for Europe to achieve “tech independence” and defend its “technological sovereignty” are growing louder.
Is Europe Becoming a U.S. “Digital Colony”?
In March this year, the United States suspended Ukraine’s access to critical commercial satellite imagery as a way to pressure Kyiv into ceasefire talks with Russia. According to outlets like Deutsche Welle, such satellite data—provided by the U.S.—is vital to Ukraine, with its armed forces relying on it to monitor Russian troop movements and plan military operations. Some believe this move significantly contributed to Ukraine’s subsequent setbacks on the battlefield.
In May, another incident raised eyebrows: the work email account of Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, was reportedly blocked by U.S. tech giant Microsoft. This came shortly after the White House imposed sanctions on the ICC over its investigation into Israeli officials.
“It’s time for allies to start de-risking from the U.S.,” warned Charles A. Kupchan, a senior fellow at Chatham House, in an article for Nikkei Asia. He argued that as U.S. foreign policy grows increasingly transactional, Washington’s allies must confront their technological dependence on America. After the ICC email incident, Dutch media outlets like The Netherlands Times reported rising concern—not just in the Netherlands but across the EU—about the potential consequences of overreliance on American technology.
Europe’s Unease with U.S. Tech Dependence Is Nothing New
“Europe’s reluctance to rely on American digital technology is nothing new—it dates back at least to 2013, when Edward Snowden exposed the PRISM surveillance scandal,” notes a recent report from the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Titled “Transatlantic Tech Clash: Will Europe De-Risk from the U.S.?”, the report points out that current debates increasingly focus on how the U.S. may be leveraging its technological dominance against Europe.
According to an April 16 report from AFP, EU industry leaders are growing increasingly concerned that the White House could weaponize America’s digital dominance. As German broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk reported on June 15, U.S. supremacy in digital technologies has long posed economic challenges for Europe—but with tech becoming ever more politicized, this dependency is now seen as a strategic risk.
Germany’s Tagesspiegel bluntly stated that, in terms of digital reliance, “Germany and much of Europe have effectively become a colony.” AFP echoed this sentiment, noting that from Microsoft to Meta, from Apple to Uber, and across areas like cloud computing and AI, much of the technology Europeans use every day is American-made.
Al Jazeera reported that around 80% of Europe’s digital infrastructure—from hardware and software to cloud services and data networks—is controlled by foreign companies. In cloud computing, U.S. giants Amazon, Microsoft, and Google dominate the European market, holding about 72% of market share as of Q2 2022. In contrast, European providers accounted for less than 13%. This disparity means that highly sensitive data—including government files, personal health records, and corporate secrets—is often stored on servers governed by U.S. law.
In semiconductors, Europe relies heavily on chips designed with American patents and technologies. Its global share in chip manufacturing has dropped to around 9%, mostly in legacy products, while cutting-edge chips are primarily produced by U.S. firms like Nvidia. Even ASML, the Dutch leader in chipmaking equipment, still imports critical components from the U.S.
In AI, around 70% of models and platforms used in Europe originate from the U.S. Likewise, with few viable domestic alternatives, Europe remains dependent on American tech giants for mobile and desktop operating systems, search engines, and social media networks.
According to Germany’s Handelsblatt, a growing number of companies are beginning to critically reassess Germany’s dependence on American technology. The Frankfurter Rundschau has warned that Germany and other EU countries must not continue to rely on U.S. tech firms. Recently, Dutch central bank president Klaas Knot publicly stated that the high level of dependence on American tech companies poses a national security risk—not just for the Netherlands, but for Europe as a whole.
AFP reports that European tech professionals, experts, and EU lawmakers are calling for stronger infrastructure to reduce reliance on a handful of U.S. tech giants. Airbus, the German AI Association, and over 90 other European tech companies recently signed an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging the development of independent, sovereign tech infrastructure free from U.S. control.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde recently echoed this sentiment, stating that, given the current U.S. administration’s policies, Europeans should “move toward independence.” She was referring broadly to defense, energy, economic, and digital policy. Von der Leyen herself has previously proposed making “technological sovereignty” a strategic priority for Europe’s future.
Multiple Countries Plan to Phase Out U.S. Software
In pursuit of technological independence from the U.S., several European countries and local governments have already begun taking action. According to Euronews and Reuters, the Dutch House of Representatives passed several motions in March aimed at reducing reliance on U.S. cloud technologies by building a national cloud infrastructure. These motions described the Dutch government’s dependence on American tech as a “threat to national autonomy and cybersecurity” and called for an end to the use of such services. In addition to launching a sovereign cloud platform, the motions also urged the government to develop alternatives to American software and to give preference to European companies in public procurement.
“German state ditches Microsoft software,” reported AFP on June 13. In less than three months, the German state of Schleswig-Holstein plans to have virtually no civil servants, police officers, or judges using Microsoft programs in their daily work. The first phase involves replacing Microsoft Word and Excel with LibreOffice. In the coming years, the state will also transition from Windows to the Linux operating system. Digitalization Minister Dirk Schrödter told AFP the shift to open-source software is intended to restore control over data and ensure “digital sovereignty.” Beyond public employees, around 30,000 teachers in the state will also make the switch in the next few years.
According to Denmark’s Politiken newspaper on June 10, the Danish Ministry of Digitalization, led by Marie Bjerre Olsen, will begin phasing out Microsoft software starting next month. The plan is for about half the staff to begin using LibreOffice this summer, with the entire department transitioning to open-source tools by fall. Even before Olsen’s announcement, local governments in Copenhagen and Aarhus were already considering dropping Microsoft. Politiken reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements about wanting to “buy” Greenland and reports of increased American surveillance activities in Greenland and Denmark triggered a nationwide debate on data protection.
At the EU level, the European Commission has appointed a Commissioner for Tech Sovereignty, responsible for digital and latest technologies. Brando Benifei, head of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with the U.S., said he sees strong support for European digital sovereignty and autonomy within the Parliament.
According to Politico Europe, a group of tech experts and economists launched a volunteer initiative called the “European Stack” in September 2024, a tech sovereignty blueprint covering hardware like chips, software, and cloud computing. The plan calls on the EU to invest €300 billion and adopt “Buy European” procurement policies to boost homegrown innovation. The proposal has gained traction—Germany’s ruling coalition referenced the “European Stack” in an agreement signed this April. Foreign Policy magazine called it Europe’s “last and best chance” to control its digital future: build it, or become a digital colony.
“One of Europe’s most urgent tasks is to build independent military and satellite systems to replace Starlink,” Belgian media reported in March. Several European firms, including Airbus and France’s Thales Group, have already begun talks about forming a satellite alliance. Al Jazeera noted that OneWeb, a European satellite operator, is a potential Starlink alternative. AFP also reported that ECB President Christine Lagarde has advocated for a “European solution” to compete with U.S.-based payment systems like Mastercard and PayPal. In response, EU governments have begun discussing the creation of a truly European payment infrastructure.
Germany’s Handelsblatt reported that a survey by Bitkom, the country’s digital industry association, found that one in two German companies using cloud services is now being forced to reconsider its cloud strategy. Across Europe, grassroots efforts are also gaining momentum to reduce reliance on U.S. tech giants. Der Spiegel reported that many Europeans are joining the “Go European” movement, which promotes searching for and recommending European-made alternatives to American products online.
Beyond Technology, the EU Has Leverage
“Can Europe break free from U.S. tech dominance?” According to Politico Europe, the answer is likely no. Robert Atkinson, founder and president of the U.S.-based Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), argues that without deep regulatory reform and the creation of a unified digital market, Europe’s quest for tech independence from the U.S. remains a “pipe dream.” (ITIF’s sponsors include American giants like Amazon, Apple, and Nvidia.)
The U.S. trade group Chamber of Progress estimates that building out the “European Stack” could cost over €5 trillion—a figure larger than Germany’s GDP and far beyond the EU’s annual budget. Even European officials, according to Politico, acknowledge that complete independence from American tech firms is unrealistic. The European Commission is expected to publish a strategy in June admitting that fully cutting ties with U.S. companies is “not feasible.”
Still, many European experts believe the region has global leadership potential in areas such as microelectronics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. Europe boasts a strong foundation in scientific research, a deep talent pool, quality education and research institutions, and robust industrial infrastructure. But building European alternatives to U.S. tech will take time.
Matthias Holzegel, an international politics scholar in Berlin, told that instead of relying entirely on a single provider, Europe should take a modular approach: combine different AI models, use open-source tools for handling sensitive data, and develop localized infrastructure. He also emphasized the importance of offering more opportunities to European or non-U.S. companies to reduce risk exposure.
Belgian media noted that Mariana Mazzucato, head of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose and one of the authors behind the “European Stack” initiative, suggested that Europe could partner with countries like Brazil and India, which also aim to avoid U.S. tech dependency. In December last year, Mazzucato and other European scholars launched what they called the “Digital Non-Alignment Movement,” positioning Europe as a key player. Their report, Reclaiming Digital Sovereignty, advocates for public, non-profit digital services as a universal alternative.
“Breaking away from U.S. tech? Just ten steps,” Der Spiegel wrote, offering examples like using Otto or Zalando instead of Amazon, DeepL instead of ChatGPT, and TomTom instead of Google Maps. Frank, an IT professional in Berlin, told that reducing reliance on U.S. tech isn’t as difficult as it sounds. He pointed out that his phone contains no U.S.-based apps like Google. While some European alternatives aren’t perfect, he said, they work just fine for everyday use.
CSIS argues that the transatlantic tech relationship is not as one-sided as it appears—America is also heavily reliant on European technologies. Beyond the tech sector, the EU holds a variety of tools to counterbalance U.S. power. In addition to the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) is a key EU measure. If enacted, the ACI would allow the EU to respond as it sees fit to what it deems coercive actions by the U.S. or other countries. Potential measures could include steep taxes on American tech firms, energy import restrictions, or even limits on U.S. tourism in Europe.
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