France will begin transitioning government systems from Windows to Linux and rejecting American software 0 7

This concerns not only operating systems (OS) for workplaces but also collaboration tools, cybersecurity, AI, databases, virtualization, and networking equipment.

The French Interministerial Digital Management (DINUM) has named among the target solutions the messaging service Tchap, a replacement for Zoom called Visio, and FranceTransfer for document transfer. In June, the agency will hold the first meetings to define the framework for cooperation between the state and the private sector to implement this strategy.

France's decision has become the most notable signal that European governments are moving from individual replacements to a broader rejection of American technologies, including Windows, Microsoft Office, Zoom, and Google Docs. The European Union (EU) has repeatedly attempted in recent years to tighten regulations on the largest tech companies.

In 2025, France accused the U.S. of attempting to undermine the application of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which are intended to force the largest companies, primarily Apple, to comply with rules for open system interoperability and fair competition.

Openness and compatibility remain a recurring theme in European initiatives regarding digital sovereignty: France and other countries are gradually implementing or choosing open-source solutions instead of previous ones that are not controlled by American tech giants.

Disputes surrounding Microsoft and other American tech companies have heightened interest in Linux. Among the popular distributions that continue to receive support are Fedora, ParrotOS, Tiny Core Linux, elementary OS, and Kali Linux. The gaming capabilities of Linux have also significantly increased in recent years: Bazzite and CachyOS can run most Windows games and often do so with higher performance.