This European Country Wants to Replace American Tech

Many people like to have full control over their personal data. We turn off location settings. We block cookies.

We worry about who sees our messages. But when it comes to the systems running behind the scenes—like what software our governments use—we don’t think about it as much. Denmark is now putting that issue front and center, reports Ziare.

Denmark Is Moving Away from American Tech

The Danish government has announced it wants to stop using Microsoft software in state institutions.

That means getting rid of Windows, Microsoft Office, and other tools provided by U.S. tech giants.

The plan is to switch to alternatives that don’t rely on American companies. This includes open-source options like Linux and LibreOffice.

The reason is national security. Officials believe it’s risky to depend so heavily on foreign software—especially as global tensions increase.

All About Control

They want better control over data and updates. The goal is to make the country’s digital systems more secure and less vulnerable if relations with the U.S. or other countries change.

This isn’t the first time Europe has tried something like this. Germany did a similar experiment in Munich years ago. That project ran into problems.

Software didn’t work well with existing tools. Employees were frustrated. Productivity dropped. In the end, Munich went back to using Microsoft.

Denmark says it has learned from that. The switch will be slow and flexible. If serious issues come up, the government is ready to take a step back.

Digital Independence

The move is part of a wider shift in Europe. More and more countries are talking about “digital independence.” They want to control their own technology, rather than rely on the U.S. or China.

Denmark’s plan even includes private companies that play a key role in the country’s infrastructure.

The idea is to avoid future disruptions—especially if international conflicts or sanctions come into play.

The software may change. The computers may look the same. But behind the screen, a bigger shift is taking place. Denmark wants to build a digital future on its own terms.