EU tests Matrix protocol to replace US communication platforms

Yesterday 12:20

By: Dakir Madiha

EU tests Matrix protocol to replace US communication platforms

The European Union ramps up efforts to slash reliance on American technology amid geopolitical tensions with Washington that expose digital vulnerabilities. France plans to migrate 2.5 million public servants from platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams to a national videoconferencing solution by 2027, while the European Commission now tests the open-source Matrix protocol as a sovereign alternative for internal communications.

This push follows last year's stark warning when U.S. sanctions against International Criminal Court judges cut off access to American services like Amazon and Google, showing how swiftly Washington decisions can disrupt European operations.

France leads with Public Service Minister David Amiel set to issue a decree mandating all ministries abandon Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, and other non-European platforms for Visio. Developed under the Interministerial Digital Directorate and hosted on France's certified SecNumCloud infrastructure, Visio has tested with 40,000 users for a year as part of the broader France Digital Suite initiative. "The goal is to end non-European solutions and ensure security and confidentiality of public electronic communications through a powerful sovereign tool," Amiel stated. The government projects annual license savings up to 1 million euros for 100,000 users.

The European Commission began testing a Matrix-based messaging system as both complement and potential Microsoft Teams backup. A Commission spokesperson confirmed preparations for this open-source option amid rising concerns over U.S. software dependence. Matrix already serves the French government, German health agencies, and militaries across the continent.

This reflects Europe's growing digital exposure worries. An EU Parliament report cited by officials notes the bloc sources over 80% of its digital products, services, infrastructure, and intellectual property from non-EU countries. "Over the past year everyone really grasped the importance of not depending on one country or company for certain very critical technologies," said EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen, who will unveil a major "technological sovereignty" program in March covering cloud, AI, and semiconductors. "These dependencies can be weaponized against us."

Momentum builds across member states. Germany's Schleswig-Holstein shifted over 40,000 government mailboxes from Microsoft Exchange and Outlook to open-source Open-Xchange and Thunderbird last year. The European Parliament reexamines Microsoft reliance after MEPs pushed European alternatives. Franco-German partners Mistral AI and SAP announced November plans for an AI-powered European sovereign cloud, with SAP committing over 20 billion euros. "Digital technologies are no longer neutral tools," said Sebastiano Toffaletti of the European Digital SME Alliance. "When core infrastructures like cloud services, AI, or platforms are governed from outside Europe, so are regulations, data, and ultimately control."