The Boykott article of US corporations: German software providers benefit from Maria Gramsch first appeared on Basic Thinking. You always stay up to date with our newsletter.
More and more customers in Europe are distance themselves from tech companies from the USA. The reasons for this are complex, but have to do with the course of US President Donald Trump. Many German software providers benefit from this.
Large tech companies from the USA such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google or Meta have an enormous market power worldwide. But especially since US President Donald Trump took office, many users in Europe ask themselves how great the dependency on US corporations should be.
Among other things, the financial support and the proximity of the Big Tech company to US President Donald Trump plays a crucial role. But data protection concerns come up again and again.
At Microsoft, you get nervous in view of this critical mood. Because the US group has now with a long letter turned to its European customers. The “New Digital Assessments for Europe” comes from Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft.
At a distance from US corporations: How Microsoft wants to keep EU customers
Smith deals with the digital resilience of Europe in his blog post. The group wants to maintain this “even in times of geopolitical volatility”. In order for this to work in reality, the US group wants to build a European cloud. The cloud services will in future be operated by company units based in Europe.
The data centers and board members of the subsidiaries should also be subject to a European Board of Directors, “which is made up of European citizens and works under European laws”.
By accepting a new European obligation to digital resilience in all of our contracts with European governments and the European Commission, this obligation for Microsoft Corporation and all of its subsidiaries become legally binding.
Microsoft does not even exclude conflicts with the US government. “In the unexpected case that we are instructed by a government somewhere in the world to suspend or hire our cloud activities in Europe, we undertake to contest such measures quickly and powerfully with all legal means that are available to us-even through legal disputes in court,” said Smith.
German software companies benefit
But while Microsoft is trying to smooth the waves, a number of customers have apparently turned away from the Windows Group. This also shows “a significantly increased interest” in cloud solutions and server products since the beginning of the year, for example at the German company Ionos, such as CEO Achim Weiß compared to the Rnd confirmed.
“In discussions, political development in the USA is regularly mentioned as a reason,” explains Weiß. “We see a particularly high demand, especially in regulated industries such as healthcare and the energy industry, but also in the armaments industry.”
The NextCloud company, which offers cloud services and office programs, also confirms this tendency. Since Donald Trump took office, interest in the company’s products has tripled, Managing Director Frank Karlitschek told the Rnd. Deutsche Telekom also has a growing interest in its cloud services.
Many of the inquiries would come from administrations inside and outside of Europe. But also from the educational and health sector in which data need special protection. “Many now want to change because they no longer trust services from the USA,” said Karlitschek.
Fear of blackmail by Trump
For example, the state of Schleswig-Holstein is currently moving to Nexcloud. Instead of the Office software from Microsoft, the authorities want to put the free libre office in the future. The operating system is to be used as the operating system instead of Windows.
The decisions were made before Trump took office again again, but was promoted faster after the election. Many customers in turn consider that US services are switched off by Donald Trump in Germany and the EU or that could be used as a means of pressure in the form of sanctions.
Another concern: The prices for US services could increase due to customs disputes. In general, the risk of a digital dependency with a view to the monopoly position of some providers reveals. Many customers and companies also fear industrial espionage. For example, US companies use EU users to use EU users to train their AI models.
Also interesting:
- AI models cannot think logically-they just do that
- German researchers develop new lithium ion leaders-for better batteries
- So you can scan documents on the iPhone
- When is a balcony power plant worth?
The Boykott article of US corporations: German software providers benefit from Maria Gramsch first appeared on Basic Thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard.
As a tech industry expert, I see the boycott of US corporations as an opportunity for German software providers to benefit. With growing concerns about data privacy and surveillance, many consumers and businesses are looking for alternatives to American tech companies that have been embroiled in controversies surrounding their handling of user data.
German software providers have a strong reputation for their commitment to data protection and privacy, which makes them an attractive option for those seeking more secure and transparent solutions. By capitalizing on this trend, German companies can gain a competitive advantage and expand their market share both domestically and internationally.
Additionally, the boycott of US corporations could lead to increased collaboration and partnerships between German software providers and other European tech companies, further strengthening the European tech ecosystem. This could result in a more diverse and innovative industry that offers consumers a wider range of choices and solutions.
Overall, the boycott of US corporations presents a significant opportunity for German software providers to showcase their expertise in data protection and privacy, and to position themselves as trusted alternatives in the global tech market.
Credits