They say “data is the new oil” and this highlights a critical vulnerability for Europe. Our reliance on non-European hyperscalers for data storage creates a significant dependency, raising serious questions about control, security, and resilience. What if these dominant nations restrict services, or how our data being used? Companies like Microsoft can not guarantee that European data won’t be used by others while it is stored outside of Europe.
Digital sovereignty means you have full control over your data, software, and infrastructure. Digital sovereignty isn’t just about knowing your dependencies; it’s about actively eliminating them. Björn Schiessle from NextCloud highlighted that Europe not only must act but, crucially, can act now. Many organizations remain stuck in theoretical debates, overlooking that solutions already exist. Arguments like “we need European hyperscalers first” often serve as excuses preventing change. Key pathways include developing European hyperscalers, utilizing existing European solutions, defining missing features, and making informed decisions. By consciously steering our decisions and investments towards the right solutions, digital sovereignty can transition from a mere aspiration to a practical reality.
