France to ditch Windows for Linux to reduce reliance on US tech

The French government has announced a strategic shift from Microsoft Windows to the open-source Linux operating system for its public administration computers, a decision made in Paris this week as part of a broader national initiative to achieve technological sovereignty and reduce dependency on American software giants. This policy, championed by the Ministry of Public Transformation and Service, represents one of the most significant state-level migrations to open-source software in recent Western history. The transition, which will be implemented in phases across various government departments, is framed as a critical step toward securing France's digital infrastructure and ensuring greater control over its data and software ecosystems. Officials argue that reliance on proprietary systems like Windows exposes the state to potential vulnerabilities, licensing costs, and external geopolitical pressures. By adopting Linux—a system whose code is publicly auditable and modifiable—France aims to foster a more resilient and customizable IT environment that can be tailored to specific administrative needs. This move is not an isolated incident but part of a long-standing French and European push for 'digital sovereignty,' a concept that has gained urgency amid concerns over US tech dominance and cloud data storage under laws like the CLOUD Act. While the migration presents challenges, including retraining staff and adapting legacy software, it is expected to stimulate the domestic open-source software sector and could set a precedent for other EU nations contemplating similar decoupling strategies from major US tech providers.