When American tech giants pitch their cloud services as the answer to Europe's data sovereignty needs, they often use the term "sovereign platforms" to suggest they can offer the highest levels of security and compliance with European laws. However, these claims can be misleading, and trusting US-based companies with critical data might come with significant risks, particularly for public institutions, enterprises, and citizens in the EU. Here's why trusting US companies with your critical data could be a risky move, despite their flashy tech solutions and advertising.
1. The Cloud Act and Its Trans-National Reach: A Global Power Grab
One of the biggest red flags in the debate over data sovereignty is the Cloud Act—a US law that gives American authorities the power to access data stored abroad. This means that if your data is housed in a European data center but managed by a US-based company, the US government can still legally demand access, even if it’s protected by European laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Imagine: Your sensitive data—stored on European soil, theoretically protected by European laws—but the Cloud act leaves your information in a “ready” state to be compromised. Does that sound like sovereignty? Hardly.
2. US Intelligence Agencies: Silent watchers in Your Data 🔕
It’s not just about law enforcement. The reach of US intelligence agencies like the NSA and CIA looms large, too. US tech companies are often forced to comply with US government requests for data under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This means that even if your data is stored in Europe, it could be secretly accessed for what they consider national security purposes.
There’s no European oversight here. No check on whether your data is being used for surveillance purposes. And even if it’s not being explicitly accessed by the government, the legal framework encourages US companies to cooperate with intelligence agencies, potentially putting your data at risk. As a result, U.S. tech companies are heavily incentivized to build access to your private data into their product architectures and business plans.
3. Lack of Legal Recourse: Europeans Are Left in the Dark 🌑
Let’s say your data is accessed by US authorities. What can you do about it? Well, if you're in Europe, not much. Unlike the GDPR, which gives EU citizens significant control over their personal data, there are no equivalent protections or recourse under US law.
In fact, Europeans don’t even have a legal pathway to challenge or contest US data requests. US companies may comply with these requests without notifying their European customers, leaving you powerless if something goes wrong. This lack of transparency and accountability makes it far riskier to trust US tech giants with your most sensitive data. The footprints of your data going into the dark cave of U.S. government access go in, but they never come back out.
4. Backdoors: The Secret Path to Your Data🚪
A little-known but highly concerning possibility with US-based tech companies is the backdoor—a secret access point that allows governments to bypass security systems and access data. US law allows the creation of such backdoors for the purposes of surveillance. So, even if a company claims their platform is secure, there’s a chance that the US government could compel them to install a backdoor and gain access to your data without your knowledge.
While not every company may comply, the legal pressure on them to cooperate with intelligence agencies is immense. And once this backdoor is in place, your data is no longer safe, no matter how secure the platform claims to be.
5. Data Leaks and Third-Party Sharing: Where Does Your Data Really Go?
One of the most troubling aspects of US cloud providers is their sprawling global ecosystems. Many of these companies don’t just store your data—they share it across borders, often without clear transparency. Your data could be routed through countries with weaker privacy laws, or shared with third parties (including subsidiaries) that increase the risk of unauthorized access.
This makes it harder to know where your data really is and who has access to it. In many cases, this international data flow isn’t just about business—it opens the door to potential data leaks and misuse, especially when third-party companies are involved. But it gets even worse. Many U.S. businesses base a large part of their business plan not just on sharing, but on selling your data. In this case, the data ownership changes hands, in many cases to parties who have zero incentive to keep it safe.
6. The US Government's Political Leverage Over Data
In addition to the technical risks, there’s also a political dimension. US-based companies and their data are often caught in the crossfire of geopolitical struggles. In times of international tension, the US government can leverage access to data stored with American companies as a tool for political or financial influence.
If Europe finds itself at odds with the US—whether over trade, policy, or international relations—its critical infrastructure and data could be used as leverage in these disputes. The potential for data to be held hostage by diplomatic tensions puts European companies at a significant disadvantage, especially when it comes to sensitive, critical information.
7. Historical Precedents of Overreach: What Snowden Taught Us
The revelations by Edward Snowden about US surveillance programs like PRISM and XKeyscore showed the world just how far US intelligence agencies would go in their data collection efforts. These programs weren’t just about spying on foreign governments—they also involved the surveillance of ordinary citizens, including Europeans.
Snowden's leaks revealed that US agencies had direct access to the servers of major US tech companies, and that they were using this data to track and monitor individuals worldwide. This is the history of data privacy under US companies. Let the buyer beware.
Reclaim Your Data Sovereignty🌍
The risks of entrusting sensitive data to US-based cloud providers are substantial, and the so-called "sovereign platforms" being pitched by American companies do little to address the core issue: European organizations’ loss of control over their own data.
If you’re a European organization that is (rightly) concerned about this threat to your data protection and privacy, there is a long-term consideration, and a practical consideration.
Long-term, Europe needs to build its own independent digital infrastructure with true data sovereignty. Enough said.
Practically speaking, you need to protect your data now. The answer is deceptively simple–ensure that your data is encrypted end-to-end based on a zero-knowledge architecture. While this is simple, there is only one enterprise-class platform that delivers this capability: Wire. Learn more on our website. Start a free trial. Or contact us and we can help you build a truly secure, data-sovereign way to communicate and collaborate.
