"German state decides to uninstall Microsoft Teams"
In a mere nine weeks, almost every civil servant, policeman, or judge in Schleswig-Holstein will be ditching Microsoft's ubiquitous software for open-source alternatives. That's right, folks, they're done with Teams and the whole nine yards!
The northern German state is making this switch to reclaim control over their data storage and establish digital sovereignty, according to Dirk Schroedter, its digitalisation minister. And they're not just talking the talk; they're walking the walk. They've already started replacing Word and Excel with LibreOffice, swapping Outlook for Open-Xchange for emails and calendars, and phasing out Windows for Linux - talk about a radical transformation!
You might be wondering why they're making the switch. Well, the issue of the power held by tech titans in the United States has been in the spotlight recently, particularly with Donald Trump's comeback to the White House and the rise in U.S.-EU tensions. Microsoft, in particular, has raised concerns due to its control over both the Windows operating system and a suite of programs found in offices worldwide.
In 2023, the European Union even launched an antitrust investigation against Microsoft for tying Teams to its other programs for businesses. That's right, it's all about reaping control and ensuring digital independence.
Schroedter also shared that Schleswig-Holstein plans to shift the storage of its data to a cloud system that isn't controlled by Microsoft. Their intention is to rely on publicly-owned German digital infrastructure instead of an American company.
Now, you might think that switching to open-source software would be a breeze, but it isn't without its challenges. Experts point to economic incentives, such as lower costs for open-source alternatives, especially when businesses or public bodies find themselves heavily impacted by sudden additional costs for mandatory updates.
However, organizations making similar changes may face resistance from staff who fear an upheaval in their routines. Francois Pellegrini, an IT professor at Bordeaux University, warned that there'd be an outcry and everyone would want to go back to the way things were before if people weren't guided through the transition.
In the past, we've seen examples of this struggle. Munich, for instance, was a pioneer in using open-source programs in the 1990s, but in 2017, the city announced it was turning back after experiencing a lack of political support and difficulties in interacting with other systems.
But not all is lost. France's gendarmerie, around 100,000 strong, has been using the Linux operating system since the 2000s, and India's defense ministry was reported to have launched a homegrown system called "Maya OS" in 2023. Crossing the border into Denmark, local governments in Copenhagen and Aarhus are also rumored to be considering dumping Microsoft.
Another potential factor driving this trend is the EU "Interoperable Europe Act," which encourages the use of open-source software. In a couple of years, experts believe there could be pioneer administrations who can provide valuable feedback and inspire others to make the switch, paving the way for a brave new digital world!
Businesses in France, like the gendarmerie, have already embraced open-source software, using Linux since the 2000s, and India's defense ministry is reported to have launched a homegrown system, Maya OS, in 2023. On the other hand, Ukraine could find itself in a similar situation as Schleswig-Holstein, as the EU's "Interoperable Europe Act" encourages the use of open-source software, potentially inspiring other administrations to follow suit and establish digital independence, much like India with Maya OS.
