Europe seeks digital sovereignty against US/China tech giants, focusing on infrastructure and data control.
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Europe is facing a critical juncture regarding technological power, as much of its digital life relies on technologies and supply chains controlled primarily by US and Chinese giants. The European Commission has proposed measures to enhance digital sovereignty in areas like semiconductors, AI, cloud computing, and open source code, aiming for a third path combining innovation, democratic control, and strategic autonomy. For Greece, while initial steps like the digitalization of public administration have been taken, the focus must now shift to reducing dependence on foreign tech giants by developing domestic infrastructure and software. Key initiatives include the “PHAROS” AI Factory centered around the national supercomputer “DAIDALOS.” Critics have pointed out that government policies led to increased technological reliance on specific companies without sufficient bureaucratic reduction or transparency in public contracts. Experts suggest that true digital sovereignty requires an open European strategy rather than isolation, advocating for becoming co-creators of European digital commons through open standards and local expertise. Risks include foreign providers cutting off essential services or US laws granting access to European data stored on American platforms. Spain is developing a roadmap focusing on connecting its digital infrastructure with European systems and promoting interoperable payment solutions like the digital euro. Austria emphasizes deep integration with EU frameworks, building sovereign national computing infrastructure while prioritizing open-source software over proprietary American solutions, though complete independence remains challenging.
