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European Companies Reconsidering Use of US Cloud Services Amid Rising Security Risks from Trump Administration
A growing number of European companies and governments are reevaluating their reliance on American cloud services, citing concerns about rising security risks under the Trump administration. The move is part of a broader backlash against the US government's aggressive stance towards Europe, with some organizations already starting to make the switch to European alternatives.
European companies and governments are increasingly turning away from using American cloud services due to security concerns under the Trump administration. Concerns about data residency and privacy, as well as the CLOUD Act, are also driving the shift towards European alternatives. Some entrepreneurs believe that alternative European cloud firms can provide similar services on a scale needed by large businesses. The move is part of a broader backlash against the US government's aggressive stance towards Europe.
In a significant development, European companies and governments are increasingly turning away from using American cloud services provided by the likes of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. The decision is largely driven by growing concerns about rising security risks under the Trump administration, with some organizations already making the switch to European alternatives.
According to Marietje Schaake, a nonresident fellow at Stanford’s Cyber Policy Center and a former member of the European Parliament, there is a "huge appetite in Europe to de-risk or decouple the over-dependence on US tech companies" due to fears that these companies could be weaponized against European interests. This sentiment is echoed by Mathias Nöbauer, the CEO of Swiss-based hosting provider Exoscale, who notes that his company has seen an uptick in potential customers looking to abandon US cloud providers over the last two weeks.
The shift away from US tech firms is also being driven by concerns about data residency and privacy. In 2025, Trump fired three Democrats from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), which helps manage the current EU-US data sharing agreement. This move could undermine or increase uncertainty around the agreement, which has been struck down by European courts on multiple occasions.
Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the CLOUD Act, which can allow US law enforcement to subpoena user data from tech companies, potentially including data that is stored in systems outside of the US. According to Dave Cottlehuber, the founder of SkunkWerks, a small tech infrastructure firm in Austria, "First and foremost, it's about values" - for him, privacy is a right not a privilege.
The potential shift away from US tech firms has significant implications for European businesses, which have long struggled to compete with the likes of Google, Microsoft, and Amazon’s cloud services. However, some entrepreneurs believe that alternative European cloud firms can provide similar services on the scale needed by large businesses.
Bert Hubert, an entrepreneur and former government regulator, notes that it is no longer "safe" for European governments to be moved to US clouds, and that European alternatives can't properly compete. He argues that a combination of new investments, a different approach to buying public services, and a Europe-first approach could help stimulate wider moves on the continent.
However, others are more cautious, arguing that it will take time for companies to make the switch. According to Harry Staight, a spokesperson for AWS, "Our customers have control over where they store their data and how it is encrypted, and we make the AWS Cloud sovereign-by-design." However, this stance may not be enough to persuade those who are increasingly turning away from US cloud services.
The European Alternatives website has seen a significant increase in visitors since January 15, with some reports suggesting that over 1,200% more people have visited the site. This growth is attributed to a growing number of organizations looking for alternative cloud services, including music streaming services and DDoS protection tools.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: European companies are reevaluating their reliance on US cloud services, citing concerns about rising security risks under the Trump administration. The move is part of a broader backlash against the US government's aggressive stance towards Europe, with some organizations already making the switch to European alternatives.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/European-Companies-Reconsidering-Use-of-US-Cloud-Services-Amid-Rising-Security-Risks-from-Trump-Administration-A-Shift-Away-from-Dominant-US-Tech-Firms-ehn.shtml
https://www.wired.com/story/trump-us-cloud-services-europe/
https://cloud.google.com/security/resources/insights/apt-groups
https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/demonstrating-hustle
Published: Mon Mar 24 03:52:26 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
