French lawmakers unveiled 37 sweeping recommendations Wednesday to end the nation’s dependence on American tech giants, calling for mandatory use of French-certified cloud services and a ban on free foreign software in government offices by 2027. The National Assembly commission’s report, following a four-month inquiry into state reliance on companies like Microsoft and Google, proposes creating a cabinet-level position for digital sovereignty amid findings that critical sectors including health and education remain deeply dependent on non-European technology.
The investigation, led by deputy Cyrielle Chatelain from the Ecologist group and presided over by Philippe Pradal of Horizons, exposed extensive Microsoft dependencies across government operations. According to La Tribune, the commission’s central mission addresses “the technological and democratic challenge of ensuring the state can function without being subject to the will of foreign tech giants.”
Most alarming to investigators was the Health Data Hub, which stores French citizens’ medical records on Microsoft Azure servers. The Ministry of National Education emerged as another major concern, with widespread Microsoft tool usage throughout the system. The inquiry documented how Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft (GAFAM) products have become embedded in critical state functions.
Phased Implementation Timeline
The commission established aggressive deadlines for severing foreign tech ties. By end of 2025, all sensitive government data must migrate to cloud services carrying France’s SecNumCloud certification, issued by the National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI). Critical applications and data face a 2027 deadline for the same transition, according to Acteurs Publics.
Beyond cloud migration, the proposals demand immediate termination of the Health Data Hub’s Microsoft Azure contract, which Le Monde Informatique characterized as “a symbolic necessity.” The report also prohibits state suppliers from transferring public data to subcontractors outside the European Union.
European Strategic Implications
France’s aggressive sovereignty push could reshape EU technology policy. The recommendations align with Brussels’ broader strategic autonomy goals and may inspire similar initiatives across member states. However, the government’s current position supports “trusted cloud” solutions like Bleu, which uses Microsoft technology operated by French companies, reflecting market realities where U.S. hyperscalers dominate.
The commission highlighted one success story: the General Directorate of Public Finances completed a full migration from Microsoft to open-source Linux systems. This transition proved large-scale sovereignty shifts are achievable, though significant operational and budgetary challenges remain for broader implementation across all government departments.
Sources
- latribune.fr
- acteurspublics.fr
- lemondeinformatique.fr
