Europe’s heavy dependence on foreign tech suppliers is a serious threat to its digital sovereignty(новое окно), security, and long-term competitiveness.

This overreliance not only exposes the continent to Big Tech surveillance, but also hinders its ability to respond independently to global challenges, which are proliferating in a world of shifting alliances and accelerating change.

The risks, however, are not only geopolitical. They’re economic.

Europe’s dependence on foreign technologies fuels a drain of investment and talent, erodes the region’s ability to build its own tech champions and makes it harder to retain innovative startups. Relying on external platforms compromises the privacy and security of European businesses and citizens, exposing them to surveillance and regulatory misalignment. The result is a multifaceted threat to Europe’s economic resilience and long-term digital independence.

A step toward digital self-reliance in Europe

When foreign tech firms harvest European data and reinvest their profits elsewhere, they do more than just siphon money out of the region. They actively atrophy Europe’s ability to innovate. This practice stifles local tech ecosystems, saps market share from homegrown businesses, and hinders small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) trying to get a foothold in an economy that’s already stacked against them.

Investing in local infrastructure, supporting open-source and privacy-focused technologies, and reducing dependency on Big Tech titans is no longer optional. It’s essential. This is the driving philosophy behind the EuroStack initiative(новое окно), a unique, industry-led effort to empower digital sovereignty across the continent.

And this is why Proton is launching a major initiative in support of EuroStack: We’re offering one year free on select Proton Business plans to all French SMEs with up to 100 employees.

This offer includes premium access to either Proton Mail for business (Mail Essentials, Mail Professional) or Proton Pass for business (Pass Essentials, Pass Professional) — privacy-centric tools for secure email and password management, powered by end-to-end encryption and hosted in Europe.

Why France?

When foreign platforms dominate the market, collect user data, monetize it, and reinvest those gains into further expanding their dominance, European companies — especially smaller ones — face greater hurdles attracting funding, hiring talent, and scaling up. France is well aware of this phenomenon and has long championed the importance of establishing strong digital sovereignty to fight back.

Our conversations with French officials underscored a deep and strategic alignment with the goals of EuroStack. France’s leadership in this area, coupled with its large economy and thriving SME ecosystem, makes it the ideal place to begin.

This initiative represents a significant investment by Proton — one worth up to 100 million euros in value. It’s not about the money, however. It’s about maintaining our own strong commitment to building a more independent European tech landscape.

SMEs: The heart of Europe’s digital economy

SMEs are the backbone of the French digital economy. They fuel innovation, nurture talent, and create jobs. Yet many of these companies lack the resources to access secure, privacy-first technologies.

By removing the financial barrier to entry, Proton is giving French SMEs the tools they need to protect sensitive data, communicate securely, and operate with confidence — all while avoiding reliance on non-European platforms that may not respect the region’s values or laws.

We believe Europe deserves better than a tech stack built on foreign dependency. With this initiative, Proton is helping to reduce that dependency, strengthen the continent’s cybersecurity posture, and give European innovators the freedom to grow on their own terms.

What’s next

Europe cannot leave itself at the mercy of overseas decision-makers; it must chart its own course. Sovereign technologies — developed, hosted, and governed in line with European laws and values — are the foundation for that future. With over 550 employees and all core teams based in Europe, Proton is already operating at scale, building privacy-first alternatives to Big Tech from the ground up.

At Proton, we’re proud to be building those technologies. And through initiatives like this one, we’re making sure the people and businesses who need them most can access them.

If you’re a French SME ready to reduce Big Tech dependency and protect your data with privacy-first tools, apply here to get started.