The French government has officially announced it is abandoning Microsoft Windows in favour of the open-source Linux operating system as the country works to reclaim control over its data and reduce dependency on US software. The decision, spearheaded by France’s Interministerial Directorate for Digital Affairs (DINUM), aims at ‘breaking free’ from foreign tech giants to ensure its digital destiny remains in its own hands.According to an official communication, French officials say that the move is about national security and independence, a concept they call “digital sovereignty”. “We can no longer accept that our data, our infrastructure, and our strategic decisions depend on solutions whose rules, pricing, and risks we do not control,” stated David Amiel, a Minister of Public Action and Accounts. He specifically signaled a need to reduce reliance on American tools.Anne Le Hénanff, the Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology, echoed this, calling digital sovereignty a “strategic necessity” rather than an optional choice.
A broader tech exit by French government
The switch to Linux is the latest part of a three-step plan to reduce France’s dependency on non-European technology. The government is currently auditing its entire digital infrastructure, including antivirus software, databases, network equipment, and even artificial intelligence, to find sovereign alternatives, as per a report by Tom’s Hardware.
