France has announced plans to migrate some of its government computers from Microsoft Windows to Linux as part of a broader push for digital sovereignty. The move, confirmed in a statement by French digital minister David Amiel, aims to “regain control of our digital destiny” by reducing dependence on U.S. technology giants. The transition will begin with the government’s digital agency, DINUM, while other ministries are required to submit migration plans to cut reliance on American platforms by autumn 2026. No detailed timeline or specific Linux distribution has been named yet.
“We can no longer accept that we don’t have control over our data and digital infrastructure,” Amiel said in a translated statement. The decision reflects growing European concern about over‑reliance on foreign tech providers, especially as U.S. laws such as the Cloud Act and broader geopolitical tensions raise questions about access and control over critical systems. In January, the European Parliament voted to identify areas where the EU can reduce dependence on non‑European vendors, adding momentum to France’s push.
France’s initiative is the latest in a series of steps away from U.S. tech. Months ago, the government stopped using Microsoft Teams in favour of Visio, a French‑made video‑conferencing tool based on the open‑source, encrypted platform Jitsi. Paris is also advancing plans to move sensitive public‑sector data, including elements of its health data infrastructure, to trusted domestic or EU‑aligned platforms to strengthen control and security.
Microsoft has not commented on the news. Linux, which is free and offers customizable distributions tailored for government use, has long been the flagship alternative for states seeking greater digital independence. For France, the message is clear: digital sovereignty is increasingly being built on open‑source foundations rather than proprietary foreign software.
