Proton: Europe is ready to ditch US tech for private alternatives

Proton – 17 Feb 26

Europe is ready to ditch US tech for private alternatives | Proton

New research from Proton shows that Europeans want to shed US tech dependence and build tech sovereignty for Europe. Read the full report.

Large majorities of consumers in the UK, Germany, and France believe their countries have become dependent on US tech companies, and more than 8 out of 10 are concerned about that dependence, according to a Proton survey of 3,000 people across the three countries.

In the UK:

• 55% of respondents want stronger data privacy protections
• 52% of respondents want greater trust in how personal data is handled
• 47% want data stored under European laws

In Germany:

• 44% of respondents want stronger data privacy protections
• 43% want data stored under European laws
• 37% of respondents want greater trust in how personal data is handled

In France:

• 54% of respondents want stronger data privacy protections
• 53% of respondents want to support the European economy and employment
• 49% want data stored under European laws

Overall, the findings show that Europeans want privacy, accountability, and control. Across all three countries, consumers overwhelmingly favor stronger protections for their personal information, reflecting fears about hackers, AI training, and leaks.

Three thousand people across all of the UK, Germany, and France is not that large, to be frank.