European Platforms Fail to Challenge US Tech Dominance

2026-02-07 digital

Brussels, Saturday 7 February 2026
Europe remains heavily dependent on US tech, exemplified by the International Criminal Court replacing Microsoft after Washington blocked the chief prosecutor’s email, exposing severe sovereignty risks.

Sovereignty Risks Move from Theory to Practice

The vulnerability of European institutions to American foreign policy decisions has transitioned from a theoretical risk to an operational reality. In a stark demonstration of this dependency, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is currently replacing its Microsoft solutions with the German ‘Open Desk’ system [8]. This strategic shift follows an incident in 2025 where the US government, utilizing its jurisdiction over American tech providers, denied ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan access to his Microsoft email account [8]. This intervention occurred shortly after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Minister of Defence, which subsequently triggered US sanctions against the court [8]. This episode underscores the warnings from Dutch experts that reliance on foreign parties for data management fundamentally compromises control and security [2].

The Scale of the Transatlantic Divide

While the political will to establish digital sovereignty is growing, the consumer market remains overwhelmingly dominated by US incumbents. Analysis of 2025 data paints a grim picture for local challengers: while the European-developed platform Monnett launched in 2025 with a promise of no AI surveillance, it has attracted just over 30,000 users [1]. In comparison, TikTok, which was acquired by American investors, boasted a European user base of 200 million in 2025 [1]. Even established players struggle to compete on a global scale; Xing, which has been operating for 23 years, holds approximately 22.5 million users, primarily restricted to German-speaking nations [1]. The disparity is further highlighted by the French app BeReal, which, despite its success, recorded 40 million monthly active users in 2025—a fraction of Snapchat’s approximately 477 million daily active users [1].

Critical Infrastructure and the Cloud Act

The debate over digital independence has extended beyond social media to critical government infrastructure. A focal point of concern is the proposed acquisition of Solvinity, a Dutch cloud service provider, by the American firm Kyndryl [7][8]. Solvinity manages the cloud infrastructure for DigiD, the digital identity system used by millions of Dutch citizens to access government services [7]. Although the data resides in the Netherlands, the US Cloud Act allows American intelligence agencies to compel US companies to provide access to data stored abroad [7]. Tech expert Bert Hubert noted the severity of the legal pressure on US executives, stating that if compelled to share data, the alternative to compliance is prison [7]. The Dutch Authority for Consumers & Markets is investigating the takeover, with a decision expected in March 2026 [7].

Mobilising Capital and Political Will

In response to these structural weaknesses, the Dutch government is aggressively ramping up its investment in local technological capacity. Following the ‘AI-Deltaplan’ delivered in November 2025 by Jelle Prins and Michiel Bakker, the coalition intends to establish a new investment institution with capital between €3 billion and €5 billion to support promising companies [3]. Furthermore, a National Agency for Disruptive Innovation (Nadi) is planned with a budget of €500 million to foster technological breakthroughs [3]. On Thursday, 5 February 2026, Rob Jetten announced that the incoming cabinet would, for the first time, include a State Secretary for Digital Economy and Sovereignty to consolidate these efforts [3].

A Cultural Shift Required

Despite financial commitments, experts argue that a cultural shift is equally necessary. Speaking on 6 February 2026, Michiel Vos warned that the US elite increasingly views Europe as “flyover country,” with diminishing interest in the continent’s affairs [4]. Vos urged the European digital sector to abandon its reliance on American guarantees and “build your own Google,” noting that the US offers a “fighter’s mentality” that contrasts with European consensus-seeking [4]. This sentiment was echoed by Stijn Grove at the opening of the Kickstart Europe Conference 2026, who emphasised that the region is at a crucial tipping point and must accelerate the development of sovereign digital infrastructure to secure its future [5].

Sources & Ecosystem Partners

Digital Sovereignty Platform Economy