Digital freedom: Why Europe now work

Sometimes in addition to some hardware manufacturers in Asia, the entire IT industry-and thus the field of software development is also more or less completely sized, sometimes dominating. I am a clear example for this: My phone comes from Apple. My notebook and my desktop calculator too. Of course, also the operating system. As a browser, I mainly use chrome, but Microsoft 365 as an office package.

Dropbox acts as a cloud memory, I communicate with my colleagues via slack. We operate our websites and applications in the digital ocean. As a search engine, I use Google. All these products and services come from American companies.

Vodafone: smartphone on guidance | Heise online

Even if your setup definitely does not match with me at all, you can ask questions for fun to yourself:

“How many equipment-IT hardware or software-do I really use every day that does not come from an American company?”

If you watch an embedded video for blog posts, use a service from the USA as well, ie YouTube – which is related to Google. In the last few years and decades, there has been a lot of dependence that many people no longer experience this kind because it has become normal. In view of the current global political situation, I find it sensible to question this situation at least. Exactly I want to do this in this post.

Why is this dependence problematic

The first question is: Why should you question this dependence? where is the problem? Currently several aspects are coming together. Technically, it is a case that from the devices that we use every day, for infrastructure, which we almost trust with eyes closed, much is not ultimately in our hands. It is also about important infrastructure. You just have to imagine what if the large American cloud provider will eliminate your contracts overnight with European customers, whatever the reason. If AWS, Azure, Google and Co. If suddenly breaks, immediate functionality of many systems will be severely banned.

There should not be an end. Personal accounts can have a serious impact of locking or withdrawal of license – not only on companies, but also for many individual users.

Political risk and legal structure terms

There are also political risk. A look at the current American legal status, derived in the principles of conspiracy, is sufficient, such as the Cloud Act or Patriot Act. It quickly becomes clear that European data safety is not guaranteed, even though they are stored in European data centers. In case of doubt, operators have to use officers. The obstacle may be slightly higher when storing directly in the United States, but it is not highly high.

In combination with unpredictability of the current American policy, there is an additional risk. This can be seen, for example, in the field of tariffs: The credibility of the United States is currently severely restricted. It has not been excluded that other areas may also be affected in the future, such as exporting technologies or algorithms. The first signs are already available, such as the new functions of Apple Intelligence or Openai. So far, these delays have not been held responsible for government decisions, but they show that a country or the entire continent can be technically left behind.

Historical development and structural differences

All this leads to knowledge together: Europe – and I consciously talk about Europe, not only from the European Union – more than a game ball today as an actor. Decisions in the United States, if they are technical or political in nature, have a direct impact on companies, authorities and citizens in Europe. Our dependence is enough. This is unique until the relationship is designed at partnership and eye levels. However, this base is currently decreasing rapidly. Therefore, I think it is important to think about options and strategies.

Before I get into it, I would like to clarify one thing: I am not worried about criticizing “Americans”. After all, almost half of the US population did not vote for the current politics. Many people who work in software development or research share European values. Even large corporations are not guilty only for existing problems; They are often a ball of political or economic obstacles. Nevertheless, they are responsible and often prove that the interests of profit are more important than moral principles. Companies have the option to position themselves and be aware of this responsibility.

How can it be overcome?

How can this dependence come about? Various factors interlock. Historically, there were large -scale state investment in digital infrastructure in the United States, especially in collaboration with military and space travel (keyword Darpa, NASA). In combination with a very free market environment, strong network effects were created. There is also a different culture of risk capital in the United States and a high risk of risk. The motto of Silicon Valley, “move fast and break things”, describes this dynamic well.

On the other hand, in Europe, traditionally there is a more careful attitude. The sense of stability, responsibility and security is more important. It not only prevents more undesirable development, but is also unfortunately necessary innovation. While the United States is at one peak, Europe is going to another. A healthy balance will be desirable.

Structural obstacles for European companies

Even if an European company is innovative and strong, the market use is complex. Europe is not a homogeneous market: different languages, laws and cultures make scaling more difficult. Compared to the USA, where a single internal market is present, companies have to address many markets here at the same time. There are also high bureaucracy and regulatory barriers.

In addition, there is no clear “buy European” reflex in Europe. Local products enjoy a high reputation in the United States, which makes marketing quite easy. In Europe, on the other hand, confidence in its own products often disappears. National idea patterns also make internal European networking and standardization more difficult.

Europe has options

Despite these difficulties, everything is not lost. At first glance in Europe it seems that it is more to offer. The field of hardware has relevant companies such as bosch, infinonon or sick AG. In many European Union countries, initiatives are also taken around RISC-V. The world’s largest manufacturer, ASML, is located in the Netherlands for chip production. Without ASML, TSMC, Apple, Intel and others will be stuck.

There are also European roots for the operating system: Linux kernel was developed by Linus Torwald in Finland.

Hosting and cloud region have European options such as Hatezner, Scalway and OVH. These providers cover many requirements-cervical machines, S3-compatible storage space, kubernets clusters and more. Most companies do not require a full range of AWS, Azure or Google functions.

There are also options for productivity software: NextCloud (Germany), Cryptpad (France), Protonmail (Switzerland) or Colabora online (Great Britain). These solutions are also easily obedient. If US providers claim that data security is impossible to implement, it may be more due to lack of willpower than technical obstacles.

A few days ago I came to the French search engine Qwant, which has been since 2013. Nevertheless, I did not hear about him for twelve years. This shows how difficult it is to make European options visible. At the same time, I never seriously questioned Google’s domination.

The list of European options can be continued for a long time. There are many good solutions, they rarely have “default” in our head. If you think of “cloud”, you usually think immediately about AWS – although there are options. Some change here depends on itself.

A chance for Europe

I do not want to complain in this post, I want to show a creative way. Currently there is a great opportunity in Europe. An article on online spiegel Recently described the so -called trump effect: United States’s aggressive economic policy means that European IT companies benefit.

We Europeans can take this opportunity to be more independent in its case. Control of data, processes and infrastructure also means political and economic flexibility. Every sovereign society should have this claim.

Europe has a unique price system. Data security, stability and fairness can become a significant selling point for European technologies. Many people around the world want meaningful, moral work – and Europe can be exactly where it is possible.

We do not require silicon Valley 2.0, but an independent, value -innovative innovation model. Our approach is not worse, but just different. Variety strengthens global technical and economic ecosystems – and we can benefit from it.

What can we do especially?

What can we do to get closer to this vision? At an individual level, you can use European devices and recommend more conscious decisions and increase the visibility of these subjects – it is in family, friends, social media or in conversation in lectures.

In companies, European options can be included in evaluation processes. In my company (Country web gmbh) We are currently checking whether there are European options suitable for our web and cloud services. Perhaps we are not only those who deal with this subject.

Work for politics and business

Of course, politics also plays a major role, even if we only have limited effects on it. Bureaucracy cuts, simplified support structures and innovation -diet data security will be necessary immediately. European IT projects will have to promote European consideration, especially not at the national level.

Europe requires more risk capital, but in a permanent way. This is not about indiscriminately showcasing start-ups with money, but is promoting long-term important subjects. At the same time, appreciation for “designed and manufactured in Europe” should increase.

Europe exceeds an economic zone. It is a price and design space. We are not allowed to return to old national thinking, but we should not go into naive dependence. Now is the time to take responsibility for our digital future – technically, economic and politically.

can we start over. Now we can move something. We should take this opportunity.

(RME)