Digital independence is a necessity

Finland is too dependent on US cloud services — and since the US is no longer a reliable partner, digital independence is an essential security question. As Russia’s neighbor, Finland has learned to be prepared. Security of supply and overall security are key terms in our politics – except in the digital world. Although our society is increasingly dependent on foreign software and cloud services, we are not sufficiently prepared for their sudden demise. The United States, the provider of most of these services, is no longer a reliable partner. Its disregard for international agreements and unpredictable power politics also extend to digital services.

Why is digital security of supply important?

According to a memo from the Ministry of Finance, a significant portion of public administration digital services rely on these US platforms – Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Oracle. The memo also states outright that the disruption of these services could lead to critical system outages and the paralysis of government operations. Nevertheless, the measures proposed are mainly surveys and recommendations. For example, the Turvasatama concept launched earlier was halted due to a lack of customer interest and funding.

Although achieving digital independence is not easy, it is essential.

Digital independence is not a utopia, but a concrete goal that requires investment in domestic and European digital infrastructure and the use of open source code. Germany and Estonia, for example, are already systematically investing in digital sovereignty. Finland has a long history and extensive expertise in the production of digital services. There is market demand for European alternatives, which Finland could offer. Finland could build a reputation and systems for reliable digital solutions.

What does digital independence mean?

Digital independence means that we control our society. Although the likelihood of the United States or any other country exploiting our dependence is small, the consequences of such a scenario would be catastrophic. Therefore, it cannot be ignored. When it comes to critical services in society, the decision-making power over service availability and access to information must remain in Finland. Otherwise, our independence would be incomplete, if not illusory.

This theme connects to the broader question of who controls our digital infrastructure: algorithms and political influence, AI in public services, and AI’s impact on everyday life in 2026 are all parts of the same picture. Read more in my posts on digital independence.

More information about the digital independence citizens’ initiative can be found on the initiative’s website. It gathered 50,819 signatures on kansalaisaloite.fi before collection closed on 4 August 2026.