France to Ditch Microsoft Windows as Europe’s War on American Tech Rages On

There is an ocean between the United States and Europe, but the latter would really like to put even more distance between the two. In the latest instance of a European nation trying to rid itself of its reliance on America (probably a smart bet at this point), France announced that it will move some of its government systems off of Windows and onto Linux.

Details on the change are a bit sparse, but TechCrunch reports that it will start with machines used in France’s Interministerial Directorate for Digital Affairs (DINUM). There is no timeline in place for weaning off Windows, but it’s clear the government would like to feel less beholden to American firms that are increasingly stretching their monopolistic tendencies across borders.

In a translated statement, French minister David Amiel called the move to Linux part of an attempt by the nation to “regain control of our digital destiny.” He explained that France can “no longer accept that our data,…