Global shift away from U.S. tech gains momentum with alternatives
Original: The world is trying to log off U.S. tech
Why This Matters
Growing tech sovereignty movement could reshape global digital landscape
Countries increasingly seek alternatives to U.S. tech platforms amid growing dependency concerns. France banned officials from using American technology, while UpScrolled gained 1M users after TikTok censorship fears. EU promotes homegrown options like TomTom and Here.
A global backlash against U.S. technology companies is intensifying as countries and users seek alternatives. France recently banned public officials from using American technology, while UpScrolled, founded by Palestinian-Australian Issam Hijazi, surged to over 1 million users amid TikTok censorship concerns following the platform's U.S. deal with Oracle Corporation. The EU promotes European alternatives through the Digital Markets Act, supporting TomTom for navigation and Visio for video calls over U.S. platforms. India considers regulating youth social media access despite being Facebook and YouTube's largest market. Regional alternatives are gaining traction, including Japan's Line super-app, South Korea's KakaoTalk, and India's Zoho offering cheaper Google alternatives. Monash University's Jathan Sadowski notes this reflects recognition that technology isn't neutral and companies have social and political interests beyond financial ones.