France has announced plans to migrate government computers from Microsoft Windows to the open-source Linux system, in an effort to reduce reliance on American technology and regain control of its data and digital infrastructure.
French Minister David Amiel declared that the state can no longer accept the lack of control over its own systems, in the context of a concept increasingly present in Europe, “digital sovereignty”, cites News.ro. The authorities did not communicate a clear timetable for the transition, nor the targeted Linux distribution.
The decision comes against the background of a wider trend at the European level, where the EU institutions are analyzing the reduction of dependence on external suppliers, especially from the USA. The initiative is also fueled by geopolitical risks, including the use of sanctions and technological restrictions in international relations.
France has already taken concrete steps in this direction, abandoning Microsoft Teams in favor of a local solution based on Jitsi and announcing the migration of the health data platform to an infrastructure considered “trusted”.
The move signals a strategic change: technology is no longer just an operational tool, but a central element of national sovereignty.
