Foreign Media: EU Plans to Restrict US Cloud Platforms from Handling Government Sensitive Data, Targeting Digital Sovereignty
The European Commission is discussing new regulations that would restrict EU member states' government agencies from using American cloud service platforms to process sensitive data. The proposed measures will be included in the "Tech Sovereignty Package" expected to be released on May 27. This package also includes the Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence Development Act (CADA) and the Chips Act 2.0, aiming to comprehensively promote strategic autonomy in Europe's digital sector.
According to two unnamed European Commission officials, the core idea behind the new rules is to designate specific sensitive domains that must use European-native cloud services. Financial, judicial, and healthcare data have been identified as priority areas requiring high-standard sovereign cloud infrastructure. While the rules will not fully ban American cloud service providers from participating in government contracts, they will limit their scope in handling sensitive data within the public sector based on data sensitivity levels—and will apply exclusively to public institutions, not private enterprises.
If formally proposed by the European Commission, the plan must be approved by all 27 member states before taking effect. With transatlantic relations growing increasingly tense, calls across Europe for reducing dependence on American cloud services continue to mount. Earlier this month, the European Commission allocated 180 million euros to four European sovereign cloud projects. Meanwhile, France has launched its own domestically developed video conferencing tool, Visio, with plans to replace American products like Microsoft Teams and Zoom by 2027.
Original Article: toutiao.com/article/1864540845569028/
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