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EU's 'Sovereign' App Slammed by Officials
2 Oct
Summary
- EU Commission's new backup app, Element Pro, faces sharp criticism from officials.
- Officials question the app's added value and usefulness in reducing US tech reliance.
- The app's development is part of broader EU efforts to achieve digital sovereignty.
The European Commission's endeavor to enhance its "digital sovereignty" and lessen dependence on US technology has reportedly encountered internal opposition. The Commission selected Element Pro, an app developed by the UK-based company Element Creations, as a "sovereign back-up to Teams," Microsoft's primary communications tool. This initiative aimed to ensure business continuity in cases of potential disruption.
Despite Element Pro's promise of a digitally sovereign, secure, and interoperable communication platform with end-to-end encryption, EU officials have expressed significant dissatisfaction. Reports indicate that some officials found the app to have no clear added value, with one even calling it "absolute sh*t."
Element CEO Matthew Hodgson has attributed these criticisms to a trial phase and "cognitive dissonance." This development aligns with broader EU strategies to cultivate alternatives to dominant US tech and social media platforms, a move some critics label as digital protectionism.
Similar efforts include France's plan to replace US videoconferencing platforms with its homegrown Visio app by 2027 and the European Payments Initiative's push to reduce reliance on Visa and Mastercard. Additionally, plans were reported in June for the European Parliament to potentially replace Google with a Franco-German backed search engine.
