France has announced plans to transition some government computer systems from Microsoft Windows to Linux as part of efforts to reduce reliance on foreign technology providers.
The initiative will begin with systems operated by the government’s digital agency, DINUM, although authorities have not provided a timeline or specified which Linux distributions will be adopted.
French official David Amiel said the move is aimed at strengthening digital sovereignty and ensuring greater control over national data and infrastructure.
The transition reflects a broader push within Europe to reduce dependence on major U.S. technology firms, including Microsoft, amid geopolitical tensions and concerns over data control.
The decision follows earlier measures by the French government, including replacing Microsoft Teams with a locally developed video conferencing platform based on open-source technology.
Authorities also plan to migrate national health data systems to a domestically controlled platform later this year.
