The Hague – The Dutch House of Representatives has approved motions urging the government to reduce reliance on American cloud service providers and establish a national cloud infrastructure under Dutch control. The motions call for the creation of a “rijkscloud,” a state-managed cloud platform for storing government documents and email archives, aiming to transition away from services offered by U.S. tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.
Barbara Kathmann, a member of the GroenLinks-PvdA party, emphasized the urgency of this initiative, stating that the government’s dependence on American tech companies poses risks to national autonomy and cybersecurity. She highlighted concerns that such reliance could be leveraged as a geopolitical tool, especially in light of recent international developments. This legislative push reflects growing apprehension within Europe regarding the dominance of U.S. cloud services. The U.S. CLOUD Act, enacted during President Donald Trump’s first term, grants American law enforcement agencies the authority to access data stored by U.S.-based technology companies, raising concerns about data privacy and sovereignty among European nations.
The Netherlands Court of Audit has also raised alarms about the government’s cloud adoption practices. A report published in January revealed that mandatory risk assessments were not conducted for two-thirds of the primary cloud services utilized by Dutch ministries, leaving public services vulnerable to potential disruptions and data breaches. In response to these concerns, the Dutch parliament has called for a reassessment of existing contracts with American cloud providers. One motion specifically urges the government to reconsider the use of Amazon Web Services for hosting the Netherlands’ internet domain registry, advocating for a shift towards European alternatives. This initiative aligns with broader European efforts to achieve digital independence. Dozens of European tech firms have recently appealed to the European Commission to establish a sovereign infrastructure fund to invest in European technology and cloud infrastructure, accompanied by a “Buy European” mandate to support local providers.
While the transition to a national cloud presents challenges, including the need for substantial investment and the development of competitive technology, Dutch lawmakers are resolute in their pursuit of digital autonomy. The establishment of a rijkscloud is seen as a crucial step towards safeguarding the nation’s data and reducing susceptibility to external geopolitical pressures. As the Netherlands embarks on this path, the outcome may serve as a bellwether for other European nations grappling with similar concerns over digital sovereignty and the pervasive influence of foreign tech giants.
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