The French government announced it will replace Microsoft Teams with Visio, a domestically-developed videoconferencing platform, in what officials described as a decisive break from "American digital dependence."
The move, confirmed by the French digital ministry this week, marks one of the most significant technology sovereignty initiatives undertaken by a major European power. Visio will be deployed across all government ministries and agencies, replacing the ubiquitous Microsoft product that has dominated French public administration since the COVID-19 pandemic forced remote work adoption.
"We can no longer accept that our most sensitive government communications transit through servers controlled by American companies," a senior French official told Le Figaro. "This is about sovereignty, security, and strategic autonomy."
The initiative aligns with Paris's broader push for souveraineté numérique - digital sovereignty - a concept that has gained urgency following revelations about U.S. surveillance programs and concerns about the extraterritorial reach of American data laws like the CLOUD Act.
Visio was developed by a consortium of French technology companies working under government contract. Unlike Microsoft Teams, which stores data on American-controlled cloud infrastructure, Visio will operate entirely on servers physically located in France and subject exclusively to French jurisdiction.
The platform offers end-to-end encryption for all video calls and messaging, with cryptographic keys held solely by French authorities. It includes features comparable to Teams - screen sharing, document collaboration, chat functions - but with an architecture designed from the ground up to prevent foreign access.
Brussels has watched the French initiative with interest. Several EU member states, including Germany and the Netherlands, have expressed concerns about dependence on American technology giants for critical government infrastructure. The European Commission itself has quietly piloted alternatives to U.S.-based collaboration tools.
"What France is doing matters far beyond Paris," said a senior EU official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "If they can demonstrate that sovereign alternatives work at scale, other member states will follow. This could reshape Europe's digital landscape."
Microsoft declined to comment directly on the French decision but pointed to its existing data residency options for European government customers. The company has invested billions in European data centers and offers commitments to store customer data within the EU.
Yet for French officials, data residency isn't enough. As long as the platforms are owned and controlled by American companies, they argue, Paris remains vulnerable to U.S. legal demands for access - regardless of where the servers physically sit.
The initiative carries risks. Government technology projects have a dismal track record of delays, cost overruns, and functionality problems. If Visio proves buggy or unreliable, it could set back Europe's digital sovereignty ambitions and hand Silicon Valley a public relations victory.
Timing also matters. The French deployment comes as Donald Trump returns to the White House promising an "America First" trade agenda and threatening tariffs on European goods. The optics of Paris ditching American technology could inflame transatlantic tensions at a delicate moment.
But French officials seem unconcerned about American reactions. "We're not trying to punish Microsoft," one told me. "We're trying to protect France. If Washington doesn't understand that sovereign nations must control their own digital infrastructure, that's Washington's problem."
The rollout begins in February 2026, with full government-wide deployment targeted for year-end. If successful, France plans to offer Visio to other EU governments - potentially creating a pan-European alternative to American collaboration platforms.
Brussels decides more than you think. But sometimes, Paris decides first - and the rest of Europe follows.
