Software Colony Europe

All across Europe, from Finland to Portugal, Ireland to Greece, the information technology (IT) of government administrations is based on Microsoft programmes. But because digital systems are constantly growing in both size and importance, countries are becoming ever increasingly dependent on this single corporation.

June 2017

EUROPE-MICROSOFT.jpg
All across Europe, from Finland to Portugal, Ireland to Greece, the information technology (IT) of government administrations is based on Microsoft programmes. But because digital systems are constantly growing in both size and importance, countries are becoming ever increasingly dependent on this single corporation.

What consequences does this “lock-in” have, as it is called in technical jargon? What risks does it pose? And what can governments do to counter it? Investigate Europe, a team of journalists, explored this question for three months, interviewing economists, computer scientists, IT managers, security experts and politicians from twelve European countries, as well as the EU Commission and EU Parliament. The results are alarming.

The reliance of countries on Microsoft
  • causes costs to rise continuously and blocks technical progress in government authorities and organisations;
  • systematically undermines European procurement and competition laws;
  • brings with it overwhelming political influence for the company, culminating in personal interdependence as well as penetration of schools and universities;
  • and puts government IT systems, together with their citizens’ personal information, at high risk, both technologically and politically

This investigation has been published in more than 12 countries.

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Publications

The Microsoft Diemma
The Microsoft Diemma

Das Erste, Germany

18 February 2018

Europa, a “colónia digital” dos EUA
Europa, a “colónia digital” dos EUA

Público, Portugal

20 June 2017

Europe without protection shield for Microsoft’s virus
Europe without protection shield for Microsoft’s virus

EfSyn, Greece

20 June 2017

Millions of students getting addicted to the products of Microsoft
Millions of students getting addicted to the products of Microsoft

EfSyn, Greece

19 June 2017

Europe, the digital colony of Microsoft
Europe, the digital colony of Microsoft

EfSyn, Greece

18 June 2017

Microsoft : menace sur la sécurité de l'Etat
Microsoft : menace sur la sécurité de l'Etat

Marianne, France

19 May 2017

Cyber-Attacken auf staatliche IT.  Europas fatale Abhängigkeit von Microsoft
Cyber-Attacken auf staatliche IT. Europas fatale Abhängigkeit von Microsoft

Der Tagesspiegel, Germany

14 May 2017

Kommunen som droppet Microsoft: – Som å gå fra steinalder til industri
Kommunen som droppet Microsoft: – Som å gå fra steinalder til industri

Bergens Tidende, Norway

13 May 2017

Microsoft er hackernes favoritt
Microsoft er hackernes favoritt

Bergens Tidende, Norway

12 May 2017

Trondheim hilser fra skyen
Trondheim hilser fra skyen

Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway

5 May 2017

Microsoft er hackernes favoritt
Microsoft er hackernes favoritt

Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway

4 May 2017

Locked in by choice: How European governments are handling their Microsoft addiction
Locked in by choice: How European governments are handling their Microsoft addiction

Computer Weekly, UK

1 May 2017

Uten Microsoft stopper Europa
Uten Microsoft stopper Europa

Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway

28 April 2017

Det offentlige Europa har lenket seg fast til Microsofts systemer. Det koster milliarder.
Det offentlige Europa har lenket seg fast til Microsofts systemer. Det koster milliarder.

Bergens Tidende, Norway

28 April 2017

Das trojanische Pferd
Das trojanische Pferd

Falter, Austria

18 April 2017

Je česká státní správa „rukojmím Microsoftu“?
Je česká státní správa „rukojmím Microsoftu“?

Ceske Centrum, Czech Republic

17 April 2017

Skolonizowani przez Microsoft
Skolonizowani przez Microsoft

Newsweek Poland, Poland

15 April 2017

Monopolie Microsoft leidt tot veiligheidsproblemen
Monopolie Microsoft leidt tot veiligheidsproblemen

De Standaard, Belgium

14 April 2017

Microsoft, i veri pericoli della dipendenza dalla multinazionale sono hacker e spies
Microsoft, i veri pericoli della dipendenza dalla multinazionale sono hacker e spies

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

10 April 2017

Gefangen in der Welt von Microsoft
Gefangen in der Welt von Microsoft

Falter, Austria

10 April 2017

Die Bürosoftware als Sicherheitsrisiko
Die Bürosoftware als Sicherheitsrisiko

Handelszeitung, Switzerland

9 April 2017

Microsoft, la Ue ostaggio dei suoi software. Così i governi si sono consegnati alla multinazionale
Microsoft, la Ue ostaggio dei suoi software. Così i governi si sono consegnati alla multinazionale

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

8 April 2017

 Microsoft alvo de queixas por “abuso de posição dominante”
Microsoft alvo de queixas por “abuso de posição dominante”

Público, Portugal

5 April 2017

Anti-Virus-Programm „Defender“: Neue Kartellbeschwerde gegen Microsoft
Anti-Virus-Programm „Defender“: Neue Kartellbeschwerde gegen Microsoft

Der Tagesspiegel, Germany

5 April 2017