An important report from the Future of Technology Institute raises concerns about the vulnerability of European states to American cloud providers. Economist Jean Tirole also finds this dependence worrying for democracy.
According to a report published by the Future of Technology Institute (FOTI), over three-quarters of European countries rely on American cloud services for functions related to their national security. This massive dependence raises not only technological efficiency concerns but also strategic questions of paramount importance.
The study, based on analysis of public data from European defense ministries, media and public markets, identifies 23 out of 28 countries whose security systems rely on American technologies, including those from Microsoft, Google, Amazon, or Oracle. Among them, 16 are at high risk of facing a “kill switch,” a mechanism that would allow the US administration to remotely cut off access to essential digital services in case of political tensions.
This scenario, once theoretical, is now being seriously considered. The report comes at a time of geopolitical tension, marked by both the war in Ukraine and uncertainties related to US politics. The previous Ukrainian president, where certain services like satellite images were suspended after a political dispute, is cited as a tangible warning signal.
Beyond the risk of shutdown, researchers point to a troubling legal dependence. Even so-called “sovereign” cloud offerings by American giants do not alleviate concerns. Under the 2018 Cloud Act, US authorities can demand access to data held by American companies, even when stored on servers in Europe. In addition, there is the possibility of restrictions on security updates in case of sanctions.
Vulnerability Highlighted by Jean Tirole
This technical and legal vulnerability aligns with the analyses of Jean Tirole, Nobel laureate in economics, who warns about the political consequences of such data sharing. In an interview with La Dépêche on Tuesday, he emphasized that European citizens already entrust sensitive information such as health, opinions, and personal relationships to foreign platforms. Potential access to this data by US authorities could, according to him, weaken European democracies by opening the door to manipulative or politically charged uses.
In response to these risks, some countries are trying to develop national or European alternatives. France emphasizes its sovereignty strategy, incorporating investments in digital infrastructure, space, and emerging technologies like quantum. But the transition remains slow, as the American technological ecosystem continues to dominate the global market.
Beyond just an industrial question, the issue involves a trade-off between immediate technological performance and long-term strategic autonomy. As international tensions escalate, this dependence could become a tool of pressure or even a critical flaw for the security and political stability of the continent.
