Germany wants to eliminate reliance on US tech leading firm

(MENAFN) Germany is weighing a move away from Microsoft products in favor of open-source solutions, part of a wider effort to strengthen digital independence and reduce reliance on US tech companies, Bild reported Wednesday.

The Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs confirmed it is expanding the use of European and open-source software in government operations. As part of this shift, officials are testing Open Desk as a potential replacement for Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Some regions are already moving ahead. The state of Schleswig-Holstein has begun phasing out Microsoft systems across its administration, replacing Office with LibreOffice, Windows with Linux, and Outlook/Exchange with Nextcloud, Open-Xchange, and Thunderbird. The rollout will affect tens of thousands of public employees, including police, teachers, and civil servants.

The ministry cautioned that the transition will take time, stressing that digital sovereignty cannot be achieved “at the push of a button.”

According to Bild, the shift also reflects political concerns. Germany’s reliance on US software is now seen as risky amid the unpredictability of President Donald Trump’s policies.

Germany is not alone in this push. France, Denmark, Austria, Spain, and several Latin American countries have also adopted open-source systems in public administration. India recently introduced its own Linux-based Maya OS for the Ministry of Defense. Russia, too, has accelerated efforts to replace Western software after Microsoft and other firms withdrew in response to the Ukraine conflict, framing the move as proof of the dangers of foreign dependence.

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