A quiet rebellion is taking shape across Europe, and increasingly, beyond. Driven by concerns over digital independence and a desire to reduce reliance on US technology giants, individuals, governments, and businesses are actively seeking alternatives to established platforms and services. This movement, dubbed “Digital Independence Day” (DID), began in January 2026, with gatherings held on the first Sunday of each month, promoting a philosophy of “relaxed rebellion.”
These gatherings aren’t simply theoretical discussions. Participants are actively exploring and advocating for switches from popular platforms like WhatsApp to Signal, PayPal to Wero, and X (formerly Twitter) to Mastodon. A website, di.day, serves as a central hub, offering “switching recipes,” event listings, and information about the “Save Social – Networks for Democracy” community project.
The shift isn’t limited to individual choices. France is planning to replace US-based video conferencing tools – Zoom, Microsoft Teams, GoTo Meeting, and Webex – within its public administration with Visio, an open-source software developed in France. Similarly, the German state of Schleswig-Holstein has been transitioning its entire administration to open-source solutions since 2025.
This trend is also gaining traction within the corporate sector. Thomas Saueressig, a board member at SAP responsible for cloud operations, noted a “massively increased demand” for sovereign cloud solutions. The impetus, he explained, is to reduce dependencies, particularly on US corporations. This suggests a growing recognition among businesses of the strategic importance of data sovereignty and the potential risks associated with relying on foreign-controlled infrastructure.
The desire to distance from US technology extends beyond government and enterprise. In Denmark and Greenland, an app called Uden USA (Without USA) has gained attention for helping users identify American products and discover alternatives from other parts of the world. This highlights a consumer-level awareness and willingness to actively seek out non-US options.
Beyond digital sovereignty, other notable policy shifts are underway. Amsterdam is set to ban advertising for meat and sausage, as well as for flights, cruises, and combustion engine vehicles, on public spaces within the city, starting this summer. The move, spearheaded by green city councilor Jenneke van Pijpen, aims to discourage promotion of activities that contribute to the climate crisis.
However, not all organizations are embracing progressive change with equal enthusiasm. The German Automobile Club (ADAC) faced significant backlash and a leadership change after its president, Gerhard Hillebrand, expressed support for carbon pricing as a tool for achieving climate goals. His nuanced position, articulated in an interview with the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, triggered a coordinated campaign that ultimately led to his resignation. The ADAC stated that Hillebrand was taking personal responsibility for the resulting reputational damage.
Meanwhile, Capgemini, a French IT consultancy, is facing scrutiny over allegations that it assisted US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in locating migrants through “skip-tracing” activities. While CEO Aiman Ezzat claims to have been unaware of the work, the company is now seeking to sell its US subsidiary. Capgemini attributes its inability to adequately oversee the subsidiary to US security requirements for classified government contracts. This situation raises ethical questions about the role of technology companies in supporting potentially controversial government operations.
Amidst these developments, voices are emerging calling for greater responsibility from the tech industry. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, in an opinion piece published in The San Francisco Standard, urged US tech leaders to resist the potential return of Donald Trump, arguing that their economic and platform power carries a responsibility to take a stand. He contends that remaining neutral is itself a choice, and one that could have significant consequences.
The confluence of these events – from grassroots movements like DID to government policies and corporate actions – signals a growing and multifaceted push for digital sovereignty and a re-evaluation of the relationship between Europe and US technology companies. The long-term implications for the tech landscape, data security, and international relations remain to be seen, but the momentum behind this shift is undeniable.
