European Sovereign Cloud: Digital Independence or Self-Deception?

Germany aims to enhance its digital sovereignty by constructing new data centers, yet these facilities are being built by US tech giant Amazon Web Services (AWS). A recent project in Lower Lusatia, Brandenburg, exemplifies this contradiction. While German Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger argues that such infrastructure strengthens Europe's position as a digital power, critics label it 'classic sovereignty washing.' Professor Harald Wehnes and a legal report from the University of Cologne highlight significant risks, noting that US laws allow authorities to access data held by US companies, regardless of European subsidiaries. This creates potential vulnerabilities regarding data privacy and operational continuity, as software updates and maintenance remain under US control. AWS counters that its European Sovereign Cloud is physically and logically separate, operated exclusively by EU-resident employees with local source code access. However, experts warn that technical separation may not fully mitigate legal obligations imposed by US jurisdiction. The debate underscores the tension between Europe's desire for technological autonomy and its reliance on American infrastructure, raising questions about whether true digital independence is achievable when core technologies remain foreign-owned.