Why Denmark Is Dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for LibreOffice and Linux

a year ago

Denmark is transitioning from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice to achieve 'digital sovereignty'.
The move is driven by concerns over security, economic, political, and societal imperatives within the EU.
EU aims to reduce dependence on U.S. tech providers and gain control over digital infrastructure and data.
Incidents like Microsoft allegedly locking ICC's Chief Prosecutor out of his email highlight risks of foreign tech dependence.
Danish cities Copenhagen and Aarhus are already phasing out Microsoft software and cloud services.
Concerns include potential U.S. political decisions impacting public IT services, especially with Trump's policies.
Denmark's Minister of Emergency Situations advises reducing reliance on American cloud services and ensuring data ownership.
Financial considerations also play a role, with Copenhagen's Microsoft costs rising 72% in five years.
Transitioning to alternatives like NextCloud, LibreOffice, and Linux will be challenging but seen as necessary.
Not everyone supports the move, with some doubting Denmark's ability to achieve digital sovereignty without Microsoft.

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