The European Commission eyes rules to restrict US cloud services
The European Commission is considering new rules that could restrict the use of cloud services from other countries for sensitive public data within the EU, according to sources cited by CNBC. The proposal is expected to be part of the EU’s upcoming “Tech Sovereignty Package,” which is slated to be presented May 27. The idea is that certain types of data — such as those in healthcare, finance, and the judiciary — should be stored and managed to a greater extent on European cloud infrastructure. If put in place, the rules could affect dominant US players such as Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud. All could consequently see their use restricted in sensitive public systems. The move comes amid growing concern about dependence on US technology and legislation such as the US Cloud Act, which in some cases can give US authorities access to data even if it is stored in Europe.