Digital Sovereignty Under Pressure
(with Katharina M. Schwarz, founder of KMS global and an expert on geopolitics, cybersecurity, and European digital policy)
Just how sovereign is Europe really in the digital realm?
Together with Katharina M. Schwarz, we analyze technological dependencies, geopolitical shifts in power, and the risks to the state and the economy. We also discuss the dominance of international cloud providers, the role of regulation and public procurement, and the specific steps Europe must take now to secure its digital autonomy.
Please note: This podcast is available in German language only.
About this episode
Digital Sovereignty or Transparent Dependence? – Europe’s Fight Against Vendor Lock-in
In the 29th episode of the podcast “R(h)eingehäckt,” we analyze a critical vulnerability in our society: our technological dependence on the United States.
Together with Katharina Schwarz, an expert in policy consulting and strategic communication, Fabian Haun and Wolfgang Strasser discuss why Europe still relies heavily on U.S. tech giants despite having numerous alternatives of its own.
The harsh reality: Germany is in a “digital state of emergency.” Extreme dependence on cloud infrastructures and software makes the continent vulnerable to blackmail. A failure of major providers would paralyze the entire economy in no time. A problematic pattern is particularly evident in the public sector: The government invests billions in licenses, but in doing so, it simultaneously cements its own dependence.
A central point of the discussion is the hurdles in public procurement. Katharina Schwarz criticizes the fact that complex bidding procedures systematically exclude innovative startups and small and medium-sized enterprises. In this way, the government inadvertently paves the way for global monopolists.
The solution does not lie in developing new products. European alternatives already exist. The way forward is having the courage to actually purchase them.
At the same time, Wolfgang Strasser describes the operational threat landscape. He observes a new era of cyberattacks: these are faster, more professional, and make targeted use of AI. Using examples such as the attacks on Deutsche Bahn, he demonstrates how attackers employ hybrid tactics to overcome defense systems through diversionary maneuvers.
The solution lies in a radical realignment of procurement strategy. The guests welcome the new Procurement Acceleration Act as a first step but call for its consistent implementation in practice. Europe must create an ecosystem that fosters innovation among small and medium-sized enterprises and defines digital sovereignty as a key criterion for government contracts. Only in this way can Germany break the vicious cycle of dependency and secure its digital future.