On Made in EU digital

In an post from a few years ago recently republished on his blog, Lionel Dricot compares the “American dream” with the European one, the economic benefit that characterizes American technological production and the community and social benefit of the European one (read Linux, VLC, the Internet itself or the World Wide Web).

We often hear that Europeans don’t have, like Americans, the “success culture.” Those examples, and there are many more, prove the opposite. Europeans like success. But they often don’t consider “winning against the whole society” as one. Instead, they tend to consider success a collective endeavour. Success is when your work is recognized long after you are gone, when it benefits every citizen. Europeans dream big: they hope that their work will benefit humankind as a whole!

I’ve never identified with protectionist pro-European positions. I’ve never chosen a technology simply because it’s indigenous. I’ve chosen and use digital solutions because they work for me and because, evidently, at the time I selected them, I found them better than others.

There are many efforts to promote European digital products¹, and I have the utmost respect for all of them. However, no one in particular has managed to convince me to abandon a made-in-USA solution just because it is made in the USA. I am not someone who promotes European – albeit less Italian – patriotism and pride as a yardstick for my choices.

I can’t deny, however, that I’m very worried today. I’m seriously reflecting on the ownership of the companies that manage my essential data, communications, and devices.

Let me be clear: I don’t think at all that Apple, Alphabet, or Amazon will stop providing their services in Europe. But since Trump is president again, I can no longer rule it out. What if it were to happen? What if the US administration decided that for an hour, a day, or a month, US tech companies should no longer serve European citizens? We live in a historical context in which this eventuality cannot be ignored.

So, what to do?

I have no intention of abandoning the devices I use or giving up some of the services I’m used to or subscribe to for passion or work. There are some that are essential to my digital workflow, especially in my professional life. But I feel compelled to reflect. I’ll be more careful. I’ll start placing greater emphasis on the origins of the technological solutions around me. I’ll favor European alternatives if, as I’m sure they exist in some cases, they’re on par with the more well-known ones or those I’m already familiar with. I’ll look under the cup to see where it was made before making a purchase. I’ll avoid diving into a solution unless I’m first certain there’s a viable European alternative.

We will have the opportunity to reflect on this together, here on the blog too.

Do you use European solutions that you consider better or equal to American ones? Can you come up with email services, cloud services, AI (…) or software that are absolutely worthwhile? And from a professional and business management perspective, have you tested them and can you suggest anything interesting?

I know plenty of solutions, let’s be clear, and I’ve often tested them for a while. But I think the time has come to persist. And to resist.