France has announced that its 2.5 million civil servants will be required to stop using US-based video conferencing platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, and GoTo Meeting, by 2027. The government will transition to "Visio," a domestically developed video conferencing tool that is part of France's broader "Suite Numérique" plan — a sovereign digital ecosystem designed to replace American online services across the entire government.
What Is Being Replaced?
The ban covers all major US-based communication and collaboration platforms currently used across French government departments. The scope is comprehensive:
| US Platform Being Banned | French Sovereign Replacement |
|---|---|
| Zoom | Visio (video conferencing) |
| Microsoft Teams | Tchap (messaging) + Visio |
| Cisco Webex | Visio |
| GoTo Meeting | Visio |
| Gmail / Outlook | Messagerie (sovereign email) |
| Slack | Tchap (secure messaging) |
Visio is hosted on Outscale's sovereign cloud infrastructure, a subsidiary of French software company Dassault Systèmes. This means all government video communications will be processed and stored entirely on French soil, under French and European law.
French civil servants must complete the transition away from US platforms by 2027. Departments are expected to begin migration immediately, with the Suite Numérique tools already available for deployment.
Why France Is Making This Move
The decision is driven by a combination of security concerns and a strategic push for digital independence. French officials have cited several key motivations:
- Foreign surveillance risks: US-based platforms are subject to the CLOUD Act and FISA Section 702, which allow US intelligence agencies to compel access to data, even when stored outside the United States
- Geopolitical uncertainty: Rising tensions between the US and EU have made reliance on American technology infrastructure a strategic vulnerability
- Service continuity: Dependence on foreign platforms means a foreign government or company could theoretically disrupt French government operations
- Economic sovereignty: Billions in licensing fees currently flow to US tech giants rather than supporting European industry
The Suite Numérique: France's Sovereign Digital Stack
Visio is not a standalone tool. It's part of "Suite Numérique" (Digital Suite), France's ambitious plan to build a complete sovereign alternative to the American digital workplace. The suite includes:
Visio — Video Conferencing
The centrepiece of the announcement, Visio handles video calls, webinars, and virtual meetings. It's designed to scale to handle simultaneous use by hundreds of thousands of government employees.
Tchap — Secure Messaging
Already deployed across French government since 2019, Tchap is an encrypted instant messaging platform built on the open-source Matrix protocol. It replaces Slack, WhatsApp, and Teams chat functionality.
Messagerie — Sovereign Email
A government-operated email system replacing Gmail and Outlook for all official correspondence, ensuring emails never leave French-controlled infrastructure.
Resana & Osmose — Collaboration
Document collaboration and project management tools replacing Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 functionality, allowing civil servants to co-edit documents and manage workflows on sovereign infrastructure.
A Precedent for the Rest of Europe?
France's decision is the most concrete, large-scale act of digital sovereignty by a major EU member state to date. But it may not remain unique for long. Several other European countries have taken or are considering similar steps:
- Germany: Multiple federal states have banned Microsoft 365 in schools, and the federal government is exploring open-source alternatives for government IT
- The Netherlands: The Dutch government conducted a DPIA (Data Protection Impact Assessment) on Microsoft 365 and imposed strict conditions on its use
- Italy: The Italian national cybersecurity agency has been pushing for sovereign cloud infrastructure for government use
- Denmark: Danish municipalities have been ordered to stop using Google Workspace in schools due to GDPR concerns
You don't have to wait for government mandates to switch. European video conferencing alternatives like Jitsi and messaging platforms like Element (built on Matrix, the same protocol as Tchap) are available today. Browse our video conferencing and messaging categories for more options.
What This Means for Businesses
While the French ban technically applies only to civil servants, it sends a powerful signal to the private sector. When a G7 government decides that US platforms are too risky for its own use, it's worth asking whether your organisation should reconsider too.
Supply Chain Implications
Companies that work with the French government — contractors, consultants, suppliers — will likely need to use compatible sovereign tools for government communications. This creates a ripple effect that extends the impact well beyond the public sector.
The Open-Source Advantage
Many of France's sovereign tools are built on open-source foundations. Tchap uses Matrix, which is also the basis for Element. This means private companies can adopt compatible tools without being locked into government-specific platforms.
Growing Market for European Tools
France's investment in sovereign digital tools is creating a growing market for European software companies. Tools that prove themselves at government scale become credible alternatives for enterprise adoption across the continent.
The Bigger Picture
France's ban on US video conferencing is not an isolated event. It's part of an accelerating shift across Europe toward digital sovereignty — the idea that European governments and businesses should control their own digital infrastructure rather than depending on foreign technology companies.
Combined with Germany's new sovereign AI factory, the EU's Digital Markets Act enforcement, and growing adoption of European cloud providers, the trend is clear: Europe is moving from talking about digital sovereignty to actually building it.
"Digital sovereignty is not about protectionism. It is about ensuring that European citizens, businesses, and governments can operate in the digital world without being dependent on the goodwill of foreign powers or corporations." — French Digital Ministry
