Anxiety heightened over risks of overdependence on US tech by Europe
(MENAFN) Concerns over Europe’s reliance on American technology have intensified, raising questions about the potential risks of overdependence. Experts have even considered a scenario in which a US leader could effectively disrupt European digital infrastructure.
A small number of US companies—Google, Microsoft, and Amazon—currently provide around 70% of Europe’s cloud-computing services, the backbone for many online platforms. This dominance has led to fears that, if relations with Washington were to deteriorate, an unpredictable US administration might “weaponize” access to critical services.
"Critical data would become inaccessible, websites would go dark, and essential state services like hospital IT systems would be thrown into chaos," said Robin Berjon, a digital governance expert advising EU policymakers. He stressed that the threat of a US "kill switch" should be taken seriously. "It's hard to say how much trouble we would be in."
US tech firms insist they provide "sovereign" cloud solutions designed to protect European clients’ data and prevent such disruptions. Government agencies have also been contacted for comment.
The broader concern is Europe’s lack of “digital sovereignty,” as US companies dominate not only cloud services but also hardware, satellite internet, artificial intelligence, mobile operating systems, and payment networks.
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