Asger Risom
A rising push for digital sovereignty is gaining ground in Europe as officials warn that US hyperscalers could be weaponized for foreign policy. The backlash has been sharpened by Trump-era rhetoric and mounting privacy concerns.
At a time when control over data and infrastructure has become a question of national security, Europe is showing early signs of resistance against US tech dominance.
This year’s Nextcloud Summit in Munich revealed growing momentum behind a digital sovereignty movement that seeks to reduce the continent’s dependence on American hyperscalers.
Political Rifts Spark a Call for Autonomy
The latest flashpoint came in February, when US Vice President JD Vance used the Munich Security Conference to criticize EU institutions and accuse leaders of failing to uphold democratic values.
The comments, combined with threats of tariffs and diverging positions on Ukraine, deepened transatlantic fractures.
For European lawmakers and technologists, it was a turning point. German MEP Alexandra Geese called the US posture “blackmail,” urging investment in European infrastructure and homegrown talent.
She stressed that the goal isn’t isolation, but building systems on open standards and regaining control over digital networks.
Tech Giants Push Back as Lobbying Intensifies
The movement faces fierce resistance. Economist Cristina Caffara pointed to what she described as an “army of lobbyists” working in Brussels to slow or derail sovereignty efforts.
She and Geese launched the Eurostack policy initiative to promote an independent European tech stack and challenge the influence of hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.
Some experts accused big tech firms of “sovereignty-washing”—offering EU-based hosting or data boundaries while remaining legally obligated to US intelligence laws under the Cloud Act.
Nextcloud CEO Frank Karlitschek argued that such measures are cosmetic, and do not shield European data from foreign access.
Is It Too Late to Reclaim Control?
Panelists at the Munich conference warned that geopolitical tensions could lead to real disruptions, including politically motivated service denials.
Recent sanctions have already cut off digital tools in affected countries, raising fears that the same could happen in Europe.
As reported by Raconteur, the push for sovereignty comes with challenges. Most critical infrastructure still relies on American-made chips and architectures.
And while China offers alternatives, its involvement also brings political baggage. Still, initiatives like the €10 billion microchip plant in Germany suggest that Europe is starting to build capacity from the ground up.
In a striking example of the ongoing struggle, attendees at the summit were surprised to learn that Germany’s military cloud services are contracted to Google—highlighting just how deeply integrated US tech remains.
The UK Charts Its Own Course—With US Partners
While Europe wrestles with how to disentangle from US digital influence, the UK appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has welcomed major investments from US firms, including Oracle, AWS, Google, and Microsoft.
At London Tech Week, Starmer joined Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to launch a UK “sovereign AI” forum—led, paradoxically, by an American company.
Although the UK promotes a vision of independence, public records show a sharp uptick in meetings between its ministers and US tech executives.
For critics of foreign tech influence, such developments underscore the urgency of Europe’s digital sovereignty push.
As Geese noted, the shift is long overdue: “It’s always too late. But let’s start now.”