The European Comission has warned that Europe is placing its core values and strategic influence at risk due to an over reliance on computer hardware and software provided by other countries, according to Bloomberg.
An internal policy document, produced by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, calls for urgent action and outlines a proposed “initiative for technological sovereignty“ that it says could reverse the trend. Without a change in direction, the “foundations of Europe’s society and its values will come under increasing strain, as relying on third countries means relying on their values,“ according to the document.
“Europe’s position and influence in global markets will be eroded, affecting European leadership and jeopardizing our technological sovereignty in key industrial strategic value chains,“ the document states. The 23-page document, a chapter in a longer briefing book, appears to have been prepared for senior officials working with Ursula von der Leyen, who in November will replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission.
The document highlights the urgency of a debate over how European’s tech community can produce powerhouses to compete with the likes of Apple or Huawei. European companies that produce the fundamental building blocks of technology, including semiconductors and software, have failed to keep up with the increasing cost of investing to stay competitive. Their U.S. counterparts have forged ahead in developing standards and products, while Asian companies such as Samsung have mastered mass manufacturing at scale that European companies can’t compete with.
During her campaign for commission president, Ursula von der Leyen published a manifesto saying she believed it would be possible for Europe to achieve “technological sovereignty“ in some areas, such as through investments in quantum computing, algorithms and data-sharing tools. She has pledged to unveil new legislation to support the ethical development of artificial intelligence within the first 100 days of her taking office. That could include introducing “data passports“ that would force companies to explain how their AI systems work.
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has initiated a formal investigation into Apple, Samsung, and Google regarding allegations that the companies have utilized patented audio technology without authorization.
SES has outlined strategic plans to establish direct-to-device (D2D) satellite manufacturing capabilities and a specialized supply chain within Europe in partnership with Elveo Mobile.
Automated systems and bots now generate more than half of internet traffic, forcing hosting companies to manage performance, security, and infrastructure costs at the same time. Ivan Čačija argues that business users are no longer buying only storage and computing resources, but the availability and performance of their own operations. AI will reshape both data-centre management and infrastructure requirements, while regional providers can compete through local presence, predictable costs and hybrid models. Fastserver sees its partnership with Blackwall as part of a broader shift towards an integrated platform combining infrastructure, security, traffic protection and automation.
