France is taking significant steps to reduce the government’s dependence on foreign digital solutions. Following Microsoft Teams, Windows is now also being phased out.
The French government is serious about digital sovereignty. Following an earlier initiative to develop its own video conferencing solution, the digital affairs department Dinum has now announced plans to replace Windows. In doing so, the French government aims to further reduce its dependence on non-European suppliers, Dinum writes in a press release.
The government agency will first make the switch from Windows to Linux itself. The announcement does not specify the timeframe for this transition, but it is only the beginning. In the long run, all French government services must make their IT environments almost entirely free of foreign technology. This is to be extended across various layers such as hardware, AI, databases, software, security, and networking.
French technology first
The French government previously announced that it does not want to use American video conferencing software such as Teams, Zoom, and Cisco Webex. To this end, it developed its own, fully French alternative: Visio. By 2027, all government services are expected to have switched to the platform.
Although the name is somewhat unfortunate—Visio also happens to be the name of a flowchart solution from Microsoft—it demonstrates that France is prepared to take far-reaching steps to protect its sovereignty. With the phasing out of Windows, it is taking another drastic measure.
Trend toward sovereignty
The French government thus embodies a broader trend in the European IT landscape. A survey by ITdaily shows that while IT professionals are aware of their dependence on American technology, they struggle to find good alternatives. The French believe that if you can’t find alternatives, you build them yourself.
This month, ITdaily is investigating whether the trend toward sovereignty is also extending to office software. Do you use Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or a European or open-source alternative? Let us know by filling out the poll below.
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