France is trying to move away from Microsoft Windows. China has said it plans to move some government computers currently running Windows to Linux, an open source operating system, to further reduce its dependence on U.S. technology.
Linux is an open source operating system that is free to download and use, and there are many custom distributions that are tailored and designed for specific use cases or tasks.
French Minister David Amiel said in a statement that it was an effort to “take back control of our digital destiny” by reducing dependence on U.S. technology companies. Amiel said it was no longer acceptable that the French government had no control over data and digital infrastructure.
The French government did not provide a specific timeline for the transition or the distribution under consideration. Microsoft had no immediate comment on the news.
It is France’s latest effort to reduce its dependence on U.S. tech giants and use technology and cloud services launched within its borders, known as digital sovereignty, amid the growing instability and unpredictability of the Trump administration.
Lawmakers and government leaders across Europe are increasingly aware of the threats they face at home and their overreliance on American technology. Last January, the European Parliament decided to adopt a report directing the European Commission to identify areas where the EU can reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers.
Trump has stepped up his attacks on world leaders since taking office in January 2025. He arrested one person on the spot and assisted in the murder of another. He has also weaponized sanctions against critics, including judges of the International Criminal Court, effectively blocking them from doing business with American companies. Those sanctioned reported having their bank accounts closed, access to U.S. technology services terminated, and other U.S. services also blocked.
France’s decision to ditch Windows comes months after the government announced it would stop using Microsoft Teams for video conferencing, replacing Visio, a tool based on Jitsi, an open source end-to-end encrypted video conferencing tool.
The French government also said it plans to migrate its health data platform to a new, trusted platform by the end of the year.
