Digital liberation: EU Parliament calls for detachment from US tech giants
3 months ago
- #Open Source
- #US Tech Dependence
- #EU Digital Sovereignty
- EU Parliament adopts report on technological sovereignty and digital infrastructure with broad cross-party support.
- MEPs aim to reduce European dependence on US technologies and expand domestic capabilities, including AI and open source.
- Calls for bold reforms like the 'Cloud and AI Development Act' and reaffirms EU's right to enforce laws like the Digital Services Act (DSA).
- Strategic reorientation of public procurement to favor European tech providers, with Greens advocating stricter 'Made in EU' regulations.
- Push for European digital public infrastructure based on open standards, interoperability, and the 'Public Money, Public Code' principle.
- Proposal for a 'European Sovereign Tech Fund' with €10 billion to build strategic infrastructures not provided by the market.
- Concerns over US 'digital imperialism' and risks of Europe becoming politically disenfranchised due to US tech monopolies.
- EU's services trade deficit with the USA hits €148 billion in 2024, highlighting the urgency for a shift in public IT procurement.
- Criticism of 'Sovereignty Washing' by US hyperscalers, advocating for open-source solutions from the European economic area instead.
- MEPs seek to establish an independent, value-oriented digital Europe free from external algorithmic control.