Finland’s plans to embrace cloud technology are facing scrutiny as the geopolitical landscape shifts. Both the Finnish Tax Administration and the benefits agency Kela are looking to transition to US-based cloud storage. However, Finland’s Ministry of Justice is now reevaluating its own intentions to adopt similar services, a move highlighted by the news outlet Uutissuomalainen (USU).
This reconsideration stems from a growing uncertainty in Finland’s relationship with the United States. In light of evolving global dynamics, other European nations are beginning to question the wisdom of relying on American technology firms. Notably, France recently announced its intention to replace US-based platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom with homegrown alternatives for video conferencing, marking a strategic pivot away from foreign tech vendors.
Adding to the conversation, Finnish Member of the European Parliament Aura Salla (NCP) has raised alarms about potential ramifications for Europe. In statements reported by Svenska Yle, she emphasized the risks of dependency on US technology and the possibility of the US cutting off access to American web services if tensions escalate. As a former executive at Meta, Salla is particularly aware of the stakes involved.
This week, Finnish cybersecurity expert Petteri Järvinen voiced his concerns about Europe’s reliance on American companies for essential information systems. The Ministry of Justice had been poised to migrate sensitive data related to candidates and voting processes to Amazon Web Services, but the pace of this transition may be affected by the new considerations.
A final decision from the Ministry of Justice is expected in the spring, as the country navigates these complexities in a rapidly changing technological landscape.