“A digital blackout would be worse than an electricity blackout”
Author: Uwe Sommersguter
published on 2025/02/22 in Kleine Zeitung
Market-dominating software from the USA threatens Europe’s digital sovereignty, warns Anexia founder Alexander Windbichler. The danger should not be underestimated.
Today, data and programs are usually stored in clouds. The data is actually stored in data centers, and data security is of paramount importance. For ten years, the interests of European cloud operators have been represented by the association CISPE – Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe. Anexia CEO Alexander Windbichler was recently appointed to the CISPE board. Anexia is a large Austrian cloud provider from Klagenfurt. Windbichler has already attracted attention with his sharp criticism of seemingly overpowering tech giants such as Broadcom. He links his new role with an urgent message: “We must pursue the goal of European digital sovereignty.”
Blackout: “Don’t underestimate the importance”
However, the EU is currently a long way from this, and dependence on dominant software manufacturers such as Microsoft is increasing. For example, Anexia is not allowed to offer programs such as “MS Teams” in the cloud, and certain mail programs are only available at the technical level of ten years ago. “But if I use a US cloud, I am giving the American authorities access to my data,” says Windbichler. The US government’s “Cloud Act” makes this clear.
And even if there is currently nothing to suggest this, Windbichler warns that a US President Donald Trump could decree the shutdown of the cloud in Europe. “Then we would have a de facto digital blackout.” This is exactly what happened to the aggressor Russia: “We must not underestimate the importance of the cloud. Our entire infrastructure depends on it. A digital blackout would be worse than an electricity blackout,” explains Windbichler.
“The economy depends on data”
Because without data and digital infrastructure, a company is effectively shut down. “Data are the core processes of companies, the physical real economy also depends on data. And in the worst-case scenario, you would have no legal recourse.” This is because data centers – Anexia itself operates around 100 worldwide – are like embassies: “The data center of a US provider is effectively the territory of the USA, which the US authorities can access.
Here you can find the Germann version of the article: Kleine Zeitung