EU's New Cloud Tender Criteria: A Challenge for U.S. Tech Giants

The European Union is set to propose stringent criteria for cloud computing services in critical state tenders, potentially excluding companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. This move aims to strengthen EU tech sovereignty and reduce dependence on U.S. technology amidst concerns over data protection and legal jurisdiction.

The European Union is on the brink of proposing rigorous criteria for cloud computing services involved in crucial state tenders. These measures may effectively sideline major U.S. technology firms such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google from significant projects, according to documents viewed by Reuters.

The initiative, which forms part of the European Commission's Cloud and AI Development Act, is to be unveiled by EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen. The proposed measures are designed to decrease the European bloc's reliance on U.S. technology and bolster local industry, driven by apprehensions over the influence of major American tech companies and legal mandates such as the U.S. Cloud Act.

The EU's hitherto unreported plan sets forth obligatory "non-price" factors in public tenders favoring EU-developed software and hardware. With anticipated pushback from Washington, the proposition underscores the EU's pursuit to cement its technological independence.