France to ditch Windows for Linux to reduce reliance on US tech

[BlueWavePsych]

Source: TechCrunch

France is trying to move on from Microsoft Windows. The country said it plans to move some of its government computers currently running Windows to the open source operating system Linux to further reduce its reliance on U.S. technology.

Linux is an open source operating system that is free to download and use, with various customized distributions that are tailored and designed for specific use cases or operations.

In a statement, French minister David Amiel said (translated) that the effort was to “regain control of our digital destiny” by relying less on U.S. tech companies. Amiel said that the French government can no longer accept that it doesn’t have control over its data and digital infrastructure.

The French government did not provide a specific timeline for the switchover, or which distributions it was considering. The switchover will begin with computers at the French government’s digital agency, DINUM. When reached by TechCrunch, a spokesperson for Microsoft did not comment on the news.

Read more: https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/10/france-to-ditch-windows-for-linux-to-reduce-reliance-on-us-tech/

[PuraVidaDreamin]

1. It's going to be painful.

The United States is now being sanctioned by the world.

I'm all for it. We all need to starve this beast and
take care of community.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Best thing I ever did was to ditch Windows

I'm on my 4th Linux upgrade, it's been really good.

I still have a Win11 machine btu only for portability. Some libraries are not Linux compatible so I bring Windows.

I'm working on a multi OS bootable USB via Ventoy which is like the master framework. Boot to any OS on any PC you like. Save your files and go on to the next one.

There is a whole world beyond American software.

[Sweet Rosie Red]

14. Thank You!!! I want it!

I’ve been looking for something like this all my life! I searched your description "multi OS bootable USB via Ventoy” and found all kinds of information. Maybe I can look for a distro I can use!

[Jacson6]

3. Germany tried this a decade ago.

The problem was getting reliable applications to run on it. Linux has an obscure interface and scripting that the average office worker or state employee will not understand. MS and Apple have point and click apps for the desktop. If they can get someone to write a decent point & click apps for their needs it could work. I've run Linux for Web browsing, emailing and playing multi media. But if I want to a tech app it will always be on Windows or Mac.

[QueerDuck]

5. 100% switching seems unlikely, doesn't it? But something approaching 90% seems reasonable.

[Eugene]

9. Linux can do most enterprise tasks, unless the workflow demands proprietary tools

like Microsoft Office or Adobe creative suite. That said, the Linux UI still has some rough edges, but it's evolving.

Europe is developing Euro-Office, a more compatible open source alternative to MS Office. The first release is scheduled this summer.

- switched to Linux 2 months ago

[QueerDuck]

12. I'm a 2 year Linux Mint user... about 1.5 years windows-free (except for ptouch label making and taxes)

[Eugene]

10. One German state, Schleswig-Holstein, switched to Linux.

As of January 2026, their strategy still rests on open source, especially Linux and LibreOffice.

[fujiyamasan]

18. I've heard newer distros are even better (UX wise)

But I haven’t really played with Linux in over a decade. I thought of taking an old laptop I may have lying around and put linux on it to bring it back to life.

I think one issue is still compatibility with hardware and drivers. It was never easy. Of course for workflows, they could prove to be rough to switch. I’m curious how this works out.

[Jacson6]

20. There is a lot more compatibility with hardware in Linux today.

The main thing is getting quality applications in a GUI for the desktop. There are just some things MS or Mac are supported with in their OS. The free connotation in Linux drives away developers that would develop and sell software on that platform.

[hunter]

21. Most of my recent Linux installations have "just worked."

All my computers are recycled. It's possible my selection process is biased. I leave computers I have a bad feeling about in the e-waste bins.

Some of my hobbies, for example amateur radio, have a lot of software written for Windows machines. WINE tends to works well for that. Newer versions of expensive proprietary software tend not to work. You can find a comparability database on the winehq website.

I have most of my favorite computers from the past fifty years emulated and available from my Linux desktop. Whenever I upgrade to a new machine I transfer all my personal files and any software I own to the new machine. Linux makes this easy.

[QueerDuck]

4. The transition you're noticing is a major geopolitical shift often called Digital Sovereignty.

Europe is increasingly viewing total reliance on U.S. software as a strategic risk rather than just a commercial choice.

"Digital Decolonization" ...EU leaders are using this term to describe the need to end dependency on American tech monopolies to protect themselves from "hostile leverage".

Concerns over the U.S. CLOUD Act, which allows American law enforcement to request data regardless of where in the world it is stored, have made proprietary U.S. clouds a "no-go" for many sensitive government sectors.

Financial ROI: For example, the German state of Schleswig/Holstein expects to save 15 million Euro annually by ditching Microsoft licenses for 30,000 employees.

France's "Linux Mandate"... as a Linux user myself, this one pleases me. I have but one "emergency" windows 11 laptop... for the occasional app for which there's no linux equivalent (TurboTax for example). In early 2026, France committed to replacing Windows with Linux across all government desktops, requiring implementation plans from every ministry by autumn 2026.

This is a striking reversal, isn't it?? US software, once seen as the global gold standard for reliability, is now scrutinized for the same reasons as software from "adversarial" nations --- unverifiable code and foreign government back-doors.

[LuvLoogie]

8. Nihilist megalomaniacal American tech bros

are creeping people out.

[LuvLoogie]

6. One of my PCs is topped out at windows 10

Going to install Linux. Mint probably

[usonian]

7. Microsoft is basically forcing users not only to use their hosted/subscription model, but embedding AI into everything.

Apple is embedding AI, but more cautiously, outsourcing it in case it all burns down, and still avoidable (but for how long?)

Since linux is basically a "kit of parts" that anyone is free to assemble any way they want, nothing is forced on you. Not even systemd!!

The core part, the kernel, is highly scrutinized and patched immediately by its maintainers when a flaw is detected, so that burden is off the backs of people assembling a full operating system.

Most importantly, every bit of a linux distribution can be scrutinized line by line, in its source code, leaving no room for the "mystery meat" that Microsoft and Apple offer.

Long story short, there is a very high degree of compatibility with Microsoft apps along with the ability to make things look and work the way your organization needs.

And (ta-da) YOU OWN IT.

Nobody can force ugly or intrusive changes on you (Yes, you Microsoft and Apple) It's like "right to repair" where instead of going to an exclusive and secretive repair shop, there are countless people across the planet able to help you.

Even yours truly was able to modify the open source sendmail program for a business need, something that a business can't do with "locked up" Microsoft utility programs.

"Free as in Freedom"

[highplainsdem]

11. Dupe. See my earlier post:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143647689

[jmowreader]

13. There's another reason they didn't list here

Windows is expensive. Linux, not so much.

[usonian]

15. One more thing. Use the safest, most private linux OS ever. TAILS

Tails is a linux system that you boot off a thumb drive, ignoring the system hard disk.
It is built for security through and through.

Formerly you booted a system off a CD/DVD, now you boot off a thumb drive.

If you can get it from someone or make your own (instructions included), you can use it for safe computing, and even in coffee shops and other insecure places, because it is solid and designed for privacy and security.

https://tails.net

"intel only" so far.
Good use for old macs and windows systems.

[bif]

16. Dupe

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143647689

[Wonder Why]

19. Microsoft Windows? (vecteezy.com)

[milestogo]

22. Is Microsoft still an American company?