Source: Fortune
Summary
The Dutch central bank has announced that it will be moving its cloud services away from US tech giants Google, Amazon, and Microsoft to Schwartz Digits, a company owned by the Lidl supermarket group. This move is part of a trend in Europe to reduce dependence on US companies and strengthen digital resilience. The US Cloud Act, which allows American technology operators to hand over data to US authorities, has raised concerns among European countries. This has led to a shift towards European alternatives, with companies such as SAP and Commerzbank also announcing moves to strengthen their European-based digital infrastructure.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. The Dutch central bank’s decision to switch to Schwartz Digits is not about skills or scale, but about geopolitical risk. The US Cloud Act has created a risk that European countries are no longer willing to take. The trend is clear: Europe is seeking to become more “digitally sovereign” in how it approaches data security and resilience. The American corporate world, and particularly the White House, should take note. “America First” is becoming “America second” or “America not all” for Europe.
Author: Evan Null
