Europe’s Digital Dependency: Has the EU Surrendered the Internet to America?

In a blunt and unsettling admission, Miguel De Bruycker, Director of Belgium’s Centre for Cybersecurity, has sounded the alarm: Europe has lost control of its digital infrastructure and now relies almost entirely on the United States. Speaking candidly, De Bruycker declared that hopes for a fully European-controlled Internet are “unrealistic” - a wake-up call for a continent facing growing cyber threats and technological stagnation.

FAST FACTS

• Europe’s digital infrastructure - especially cloud and Internet services - is dominated by American tech giants.
• Belgium’s cybersecurity chief says it’s “impossible” to keep all EU data within European borders.
• Despite dependency, no immediate, massive security risk is foreseen - but long-term innovation is threatened.
• EU regulations like the AI Act may be hindering homegrown tech innovation, experts warn.
• Calls are growing for the EU to invest heavily in its own cloud and digital identity solutions.

The American Backbone of Europe’s Internet

For decades, Europe has aspired to digital sovereignty - a vision where its data, communications, and critical infrastructure are governed and protected within its own borders. The reality, however, is starkly different. According to De Bruycker, “We have lost all the cloud and Internet, we depend on the USA.” American tech behemoths - think Amazon, Microsoft, and Google - dominate the cloud and backbone services that European governments, hospitals, and businesses rely on daily.

De Bruycker’s assessment is sobering: “If I want my information to be 100% within the EU, that’s just dreaming.” The challenge is not simply technical but deeply structural. American companies have the resources, scale, and global reach to outpace European competitors. As a result, even the most sensitive European data often resides on servers controlled by US firms, subject to American laws and influence.

Security: A Manageable Risk - For Now

Surprisingly, De Bruycker does not see this dependency as an immediate “huge security problem.” He points to the high level of cooperation with American companies, and notes there is no current, acute risk. But he warns that Europe is “losing ground” in critical emerging technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence - tools essential for defending against tomorrow’s cyberattacks.

Innovation Stifled by Regulation?

Why has Europe fallen behind? De Bruycker and other experts point to restrictive regulations, such as the EU’s AI Act, which, while aiming to protect citizens, may inadvertently stifle innovation and prevent European companies from scaling up. Meanwhile, some regional players - like France’s OVHcloud and Germany’s Schwarz Digital - are gaining traction, but remain dwarfed by their American rivals.

What Next for Europe?

To reverse this trend, De Bruycker urges EU governments to clarify what digital sovereignty truly means and to support the private sector in building large-scale, homegrown solutions - especially in cloud and digital identity. The message is clear: Europe must choose between perpetual dependency and investing in its own digital future.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Europe’s digital fate hangs in the balance. Without bold investment and a rethink of regulatory hurdles, the continent risks becoming a mere client in an American-owned digital world. The time for dreaming is over - Europe must decide whether to build its own backbone, or continue depending on others to hold it up.

WIKICROOK

• Cloud Computing: Cloud computing delivers digital services like storage and computing power via the internet, allowing users to access resources without local infrastructure.
• Digital Sovereignty: Digital sovereignty is a nation's ability to control and protect its digital infrastructure and data from external threats, ensuring autonomy and security.
• AI Act: The AI Act is an EU regulation setting rules for safe, ethical use of artificial intelligence, including standards for high-risk systems like deepfakes.
• Hyperscalers: Hyperscalers are major tech firms running massive cloud platforms and data centers, serving millions globally and shaping cybersecurity practices.
• Digital Identity: A digital identity is the unique set of data and traits that represent a person, organization, or device online, enabling secure access and interaction.