The Australian government’s $2 billion deal with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to build a top-secret cloud has raised questions in the tech sector about the true sovereignty of the bid. Despite the government’s emphasis on the cloud being “sovereign,” concerns have been raised about the level of collaboration with international partners, including those in the Five Eyes program. The confusion stems from the fact that the government has labeled the cloud as sovereign, while also highlighting the interoperability and collaboration with other nations.
The journey to this agreement has been complex, with the government initially in talks with Microsoft before the tech giant backed out. AWS, which has secured top-secret cloud contracts with the US and UK governments, ultimately won the bid to build the cloud in Australia. The emphasis on interoperability and sharing of top-secret data has further raised concerns about the level of sovereignty and control over the data.
The industry is frustrated by the lack of clarity and definition around what it means for the cloud to be sovereign, particularly in the context of international collaboration. The confusion is compounded by the government’s push for a “Your Future Made in Australia” policy, which aims to enhance sovereign capacity but may be unclear in its application to a major contract with a foreign multinational like AWS. The industry is questioning how local businesses will benefit from this deal and what it means for their involvement in supporting intelligence and defense communities.
Overall, the $2 billion deal with AWS to build a top-secret cloud has stirred debate and confusion in the tech sector about the true sovereignty of the bid. Questions remain about the level of collaboration with international partners, the definition of sovereignty in this context, and the implications for local businesses in Australia. The industry is calling for more clarity and transparency to understand the implications of this major partnership with AWS.
Article Source
https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2024/govt-s-amazon-cloud-deal-sows-frustration-in-local-industry.html