Dutch Parliament Seeks Tech Independence

The Dutch parliament has passed motions urging the government to lessen its reliance on U.S. software giants. This includes exploring a Dutch-controlled cloud platform.

Motivations behind this push stem from concerns about data security and the shifting geopolitical landscape, particularly in light of potential changes in U.S. leadership.

Marieke Koekkoek, of the Volt party, emphasized the unease surrounding the influence of figures like Trump, Zuckerberg, and Musk over European data.

The approved motions include re-evaluating the use of Amazon’s web services for the Netherlands’ internet domain hosting and prioritizing European firms in public tenders.

Amazon defended its cloud services, asserting that customers maintain full control over data location, encryption, and access.

This decision arrives after numerous European tech companies requested the EU Commission to establish a sovereign fund dedicated to investing in European tech, including cloud infrastructure.

Bert Hubert, a Dutch tech advocate, views this as an initial step, highlighting the importance of agencies openly reporting risks linked to U.S. cloud dependencies.

The potential return of “Trump 2.0” has amplified the urgency of addressing these dependencies, signaling a growing desire for digital sovereignty within the Netherlands.