France plans to move government computers from Windows to Linux

The French government plans to migrate some of its computers currently running Microsoft Windows to the open-source operating system Linux. The transition is designed to reduce the country’s reliance on U.S. technology. The switchover will begin with computers at DINUM, the French government’s digital agency. Linux is an open-source operating system that is free to download and use, with various customized distributions tailored for specific use cases. Although the government has not provided a specific timeline for the complete switchover or specified which distributions it is considering, the process will start at the digital agency.

According to French minister David Amiel, the effort is intended to regain control of the country’s digital destiny by relying less on U.S. technology companies. Amiel stated that “The French government can no longer accept that it doesn’t have control over its data and digital infrastructure.”

The decision to transition away from Windows follows a previous announcement that the French government would stop using Microsoft Teams for video conferencing. In its place, the government adopted Visio, a French-made tool based on the open-source, end-to-end encrypted video meeting tool Jitsi.

This move represents the latest effort by France to reduce its dependence on U.S. tech giants and utilize technology and cloud services originated within its borders, a concept known as digital sovereignty. The decision follows a broader European push to address over-reliance on foreign technology. In January, the European Parliament voted to adopt a report directing the European Commission to identify areas where the EU can reduce its reliance on foreign providers.

The French decision comes amid growing instability and unpredictability on the part of the Trump administration. Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has upped his attacks on world leaders — straight-out capturing one and aiding in the killing of another. He has also weaponized sanctions against his critics, who include judges on the International Criminal Court, effectively cutting them off from transacting with U.S. companies. Those who have been sanctioned have reported having their bank accounts closed and access to U.S. tech services terminated, as well as being blocked from any other U.S. service.

Additionally, the French government plans to migrate its health data platform to a new trusted platform by the end of the year.

Why it matters

France’s shift to open-source software highlights a growing trend of digital sovereignty in Europe, where governments are actively decoupling their critical infrastructure from U.S. tech providers to mitigate geopolitical risk.