Europe – and especially Germany – has become increasingly dependent on digital technologies in recent years, which is now becoming an economic and political risk. Central parts of our economy, administration, and critical infrastructure are today based on technologies controlled by a few US-based BigTech companies.
The problem here is not technology itself. The problem is power, control, and strategic dependence.
Against the backdrop of political developments in the United States – with a Trump administration that is openly skeptical of Europe and increasingly pursuing national interests in foreign policy – it is clear: This dependence is no longer a theoretical debate. It is a real weakness for Europe’s economic and political capacity for action.
Digital Dependence is a Location Disadvantage
Cloud infrastructures, office software, operating systems, AI models, platforms, and communication and advertising networks form the backbone of modern economies today. A large part of these foundations lies outside of Europe – and thus outside of our legal and political influence.
Who controls the platform determines:
Prices and terms of service
technical standards
access to markets and data
For European companies, this means permanent lock-in effects. An exit is often technically possible, but economically comes with high risks. This weakens innovation power, competitiveness, and planning security – especially for the middle class.
Outflow of Value Creation and Knowledge
Billions of euros flow out of Europe annually to US BigTech companies – for cloud services, licenses, app stores, advertising, and AI services.
This capital is missing in Europe:
for building its own digital infrastructures
for start-ups and scale-ups
for research and development
At the same time, knowledge is increasingly shifting to platform operators. Europe is thus paying not only for software, but is gradually losing control over central innovation processes.
Political Risks Through US Law and Geopolitics
US-based technology companies are subject to US laws. The CLOUD Act makes it clear that data access and cooperation can be subordinated to political and security interests in case of doubt.
In a geopolitically tense environment, this means:
limited data sovereignty
dependence on political decisions outside of Europe
potential instrumentalization of digital infrastructure
An economy that does not control its digital key resources is vulnerable in times of crisis.
Germany’s Unused Open Source Potential
The situation in Germany is particularly contradictory.
Germany has one of the largest and most capable Open Source communities in Europe: highly qualified developers, strong research landscapes, and proven projects in industry, administration, and infrastructure.
Open Source stands for:
transparency and traceability
security through openness
technological independence
sustainable innovation models
Nevertheless, this potential is only insufficiently used. Instead of consistently adopting open standards and European solutions, proprietary US systems continue to dominate – often due to short-term cost thinking or organizational convenience.
This is not a lack of competence. It is a lack of strategic foresight.
Examples That Show: It Can Be Done Differently
Other European countries demonstrate that Open Source can work on a large scale:
Denmark has systematically adopted Open Source software in public administration for years. The goal is independence from individual providers, long-term cost control, and strategic resilience.
Schleswig-Holstein is gradually transitioning its state administration to Open Source solutions – including office software and collaboration platforms. Digital sovereignty is understood there as a core state responsibility.
France consistently uses Open Source in ministries and authorities and actively promotes open development models as well as state Open Source projects.
These examples show: Open Source is not an ideology, but a economically and organizationally viable approach.
Conclusion
Dependence on US BigTech is not just an IT issue. It is an economic, political, and strategic risk.
Germany, in particular, has the chance with its strong Open Source community to actively shape digital sovereignty – for itself and for Europe. Not as a form of isolation, but as a prerequisite for cooperation on an equal footing.
Digital independence is not an anti-US project. It is an investment in economic resilience, political capacity for action, and long-term competitiveness.
The crucial question is not whether alternatives exist. But why we still use them too rarely despite better knowledge.
