France is steering away from Microsoft’s Windows operating system and towards open-source Linux in a bid to cut ties with US technology giants. Minister David Amiel has declared that this move is about regaining control over digital destinies and reducing reliance on American tech companies.

The transition will start at the French government's digital agency, DINUM, though no specific timeline or details of which Linux distributions will be used have been provided. The move follows France’s earlier decision to stop using Microsoft Teams in favor of a locally developed alternative, Visio, based on Jitsi—a secure video conferencing tool.

This shift is part of Europe’s broader push towards 'digital sovereignty', driven by concerns over the unpredictability and instability under the Trump administration. The European Parliament has already called for reducing reliance on foreign tech providers, reflecting a growing awareness among lawmakers that home-grown solutions are needed to secure data and infrastructure.

France's plan extends beyond just operating systems, with intentions to migrate its health data platform to a new trusted system by year-end. This move could set a precedent for other nations looking to reduce their technological dependency on the US or any single entity.