Europe Turns to Local Tech as Digital Sovereignty Movement Grows After Trump’s Return to Power

In Berlin, a charity-run market stall called Topio is helping Europeans sever ties with U.S. tech firms by offering alternatives like de-Googled Android phones. Since Donald Trump’s return to office, demand for such services has surged, with more people becoming politically conscious of their digital privacy. What was once a niche concern for data privacy advocates has now become a broader movement among Europeans wary of American tech dominance and its political implications.

Alternative digital services based in Europe are seeing increased interest. Berlin-based Ecosia, a search engine that funds environmental projects, reported a 27% year-on-year rise in EU-based queries. Despite this, Ecosia’s 122 million EU visits in February were dwarfed by Google’s 10.3 billion. Meanwhile, other European services like Swiss-based ProtonMail are also benefiting from a backlash against Gmail and other U.S.-based services, amid growing calls for privacy and sovereignty in digital infrastructure.

Europe Debates Digital Sovereignty Amid Rising Tensions And Growing Distrust Of U.S. Tech

At the heart of this trend is a wider European debate about “digital sovereignty”—a response to what many perceive as growing U.S. isolationism and overreach. As U.S. laws allow for broad access to data stored or transmitted via American tech firms, European experts and citizens are increasingly questioning their dependence on U.S. platforms. Some, like U.K. tech experts and everyday users alike, are switching to local or non-U.S. alternatives for emails, cloud storage, and messaging.

Tensions between U.S. and European leaders have worsened digital anxieties. Trump’s re-election and controversial policies—such as launching a trade war and threatening visa bans for foreign tech regulators—have further shaken transatlantic trust. U.S. tech CEOs were prominent at Trump’s inauguration, reinforcing fears of a “tech-industrial complex” controlling both political and digital landscapes. In contrast, European regulators argue their policies, such as the Digital Services Act, are meant to protect users rather than censor content.

Grassroots Efforts Rise, But Europe’s Digital Independence Still Faces Deep Structural Challenges Ahead

Despite rising interest in alternatives, experts warn that full independence from U.S. tech may be unrealistic. European efforts like Germany’s switch to open-source government software and satellite deals with non-U.S. firms are steps in that direction. Yet core internet infrastructure—from cloud platforms to push notifications—is still deeply embedded in American systems. Even popular alternatives like Ecosia and Qwant rely on search results or cloud services from U.S. companies.

Grassroots digital activism is growing, with communities like Reddit’s BuyFromEU advocating for European tech products. Some users are migrating from Dropbox to Proton Drive or exploring decentralized platforms like Mastodon. Messaging apps like Signal are also gaining traction, though they remain relatively niche.

However, experts agree that these self-driven efforts are unlikely to meaningfully reduce Silicon Valley’s grip without broader regulatory action. As digital rights advocate Robin Berjon puts it, “The market is too captured. Regulation is needed as well.”