Source: Fortune.com
Summary
The European Union has unveiled a “tech sovereignty” package aimed at promoting homegrown alternatives to American Big Tech services and Asian microchips. The move is driven by concerns over dependence on foreign technologies, which could be “weaponized” against Europeans. The package includes measures to boost local semiconductor production and support cloud and AI development. The EU aims to triple its data center capacity over the next five to seven years. The proposals still need to be debated by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.
Our Reading
The announcement sounds familiar.
The EU is pushing back against dependence on American and Asian tech, citing concerns over “weaponized” technologies. The package includes a sequel to the 2023 Chips Act and plans to triple data center capacity. Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen says Europe wants to “make its own choices” and avoid “risky dependencies.” The EU’s move is a response to fears of a “kill switch” in U.S. tech services, sparked by Microsoft’s cancellation of the International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor’s email account.
The EU’s tech sovereignty push is a classic case of “strategic autonomy” – a euphemism for reducing dependence on foreign powers.
Author: Evan Null
