Europe has begun to take firm steps towards IT sovereignty, driven by the need to comply with strict privacy and data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Sergio Vergara
Sergio Vergara
October 1, 2024 — 3 minutes reading time
Europe's transition towards digital sovereignty
Photo by USGS on Unsplash
The idea of a sovereign cloud , which would guarantee Europe's south korea mobile numbers list independence from the big global cloud service providers such as AWS, Microsoft and Google, has gained traction. The previous article on how China has redefined the Internet and digital life in this country is not a coincidence, all countries or states are concerned about the growing dependence on foreign technological infrastructures, especially in terms of national security , data control and digital sovereignty .
China's Intranet: How WeChat and Mini-Programs Have Redefined the Internet and Digital Life in the Country
Countries such as China have established a completely independent digital ecosystem, creating a “great firewall” that protects and controls the flow of internal information. This action has inspired other regions, such as Europe, to look for solutions. By no means a firewall that prevents free access to the Internet, but at least being able to offer solutions to European organizations that offer alternatives that protect the privacy of their clients and citizens and full control over data.
Europe , through initiatives such as Gaia-X , seeks to create its own cloud infrastructure that complies with strict European regulations and reduces dependence on American technology giants.
Gaia-X, the European federated data infrastructure
Gaia-X is a European initiative launched in 2020 with the aim of creating a federated data infrastructure that guarantees Europe’s digital sovereignty. Its purpose is to develop a European cloud that complies with local regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and provides European organizations with greater control over their data and technological operations. Gaia-X seeks to reduce dependence on large global cloud service providers, such as AWS, Google and Microsoft, by creating an open and secure ecosystem.
The project is based on principles such as transparency, interoperability and regulatory compliance, and aims to unite different cloud infrastructure providers and users under a single European standard. Gaia-X aims to facilitate decentralised data management, allowing European companies and public entities to choose where and how their data is stored and processed, ensuring that it is protected under European laws.