German state leaves Microsoft Teams for digital sovereignty
What happens when a German state decides to challenge Big Tech’s dominance and reclaim control over its digital future?
In a bold move highlighting growing concerns over digital sovereignty, the German state of Schleswig-Holstein is cutting ties with Microsoft. Announced by Digitalisation Minister Dirk Schroedter, the state is uninstalling the tech giant’s ubiquitous software across its entire administration.
‘We’re done with Teams!’ declared Minister Schroedter, signalling a complete shift away from Microsoft products like Word, Excel, Outlook, and eventually the Windows operating system itself. Instead, Schleswig-Holstein is turning to open-source alternatives like LibreOffice and Linux.
The reason? A strong desire to ‘take back control’ of its data and reduce reliance on US tech giants. Minister Schroedter emphasised that recent geopolitical tensions, particularly following Donald Trump’s return to the White House and rising US-EU friction, have ‘strengthened interest’ in their path.
‘The war in Ukraine revealed our energy dependencies,’ he noted, ‘and now we see there are also digital dependencies.’ The transition, affecting all 60,000 public servants, including police, judges, and eventually teachers, begins in less than three months.
Data will also move away from Microsoft-controlled clouds to German infrastructure. Beyond sovereignty, the state expects significant cost savings – potentially tens of millions of euros – compared to licensing fees and mandatory updates, which experts say can leave organisations feeling taken ‘by the throat’. The move also references long-standing antitrust concerns, like the EU’s investigation into Microsoft bundling Teams.
Microsoft was earlier accused of blocking the email of ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan in compliance with US sanctions—an action it denied, noting the ICC had reportedly switched to ProtonMail. The incident raised fresh questions about digital sovereignty and the risks of foreign cloud dependency.
Why does it matter?
While challenges exist, like potential staff resistance highlighted by past struggles in Munich, Schleswig-Holstein is forging ahead. They join other entities like France’s gendarmerie and are watched by cities like Copenhagen and Aarhus. Bolstered by the new EU ‘Interoperable Europe Act‘, Schleswig-Holstein aims to be a pioneer, proving that governments can successfully reclaim control of their digital destiny.
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