The new tariffs introduced by Trump are just the latest example of how risky it is to depend on non-European actors. But this isn’t just about trade – it’s also about digital infrastructure. When political decisions can change the rules overnight, we must ask ourselves: Should we really allow our workforce data to be managed by providers that can be affected at any moment by political decisions we have no insight into and little ability to influence?

Digital sovereignty is business-critical

For years, Swedish companies and organizations have built their digital infrastructure on solutions from global tech giants. It has been convenient, cost-effective, and efficient – but also risky. Laws like the CLOUD Act allow U.S. authorities to request data from American cloud providers, and trade conflicts can suddenly restrict access to key technologies.

We have built our digital infrastructure on a foundation we do not control.

The education sector is no exception. Many schools and businesses rely on platforms and services that depend on providers outside of Europe. But what happens if regulations change, costs skyrocket, or services suddenly become unavailable?

The business sector must take the lead

It’s time for Swedish businesses to take the lead in securing the digital infrastructure. We cannot wait for the government or the EU to solve this for us.

What can we do?

💰 Invest in European solutions – There are strong, open, and European alternatives in digital education. We must be willing to invest in them.

🔒 Secure our data – By choosing infrastructure where we have full control over where and how data is stored, we reduce the risk of external interference.

📍 Drive innovation locally – Swedish companies have the expertise and resources to develop and support technology tailored to our needs.

👐 Embrace open source – Open-source software provides full transparency, the ability to customize systems to our needs, and the freedom to avoid vendor lock-in. By building and maintaining education platforms based on open source, we ensure long-term sustainability, innovation, and control.

The future is built here and now

This is not about protectionism – it’s about building a sustainable and secure digital future. We have the opportunity to create a stable digital infrastructure on European ground, where we control our own data and systems.

That’s an opportunity we should seize.