France Announces Shift from Windows to Linux in Digital Sovereignty Push

France has announced plans to transition its government computers from Microsoft Windows to Linux, an open-source operating system. This initiative aims to reduce the country's reliance on U.S. technology.

Linux is an open-source operating system available for free download and use. It features various customized distributions tailored for specific use cases and operations.

French Minister David Amiel stated that this effort seeks to "regain control of our digital destiny" by decreasing dependence on U.S. tech companies.

Amiel emphasized that the French government can no longer accept a lack of control over its data and digital infrastructure.

The French government did not specify a timeline for the switchover or which Linux distributions are under consideration. Microsoft has not issued an immediate comment on the news.

Part of a Broader Strategy

This action is part of France's broader strategy to reduce its reliance on U.S. technology giants and to utilize technology and cloud services originating within its borders, a concept known as digital sovereignty. This direction follows perceived instability and unpredictability from the Trump administration.

In January, the European Parliament adopted a report instructing the European Commission to identify areas where the EU could lessen its dependence on foreign providers.

Recent Moves Toward Open-Source

France's decision to move away from Windows follows an earlier announcement by the government to cease using Microsoft Teams for video conferencing. The country instead adopted Visio, a French-made tool based on the open-source, end-to-end encrypted video meeting tool Jitsi.

The French government also intends to migrate its health data platform to a new trusted platform by the end of the year.