Energy News
CYBER WARS
Facing Trump, Microsoft vows to protect Europeans' data
Facing Trump, Microsoft vows to protect Europeans' data
by AFP Staff Writers
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) April 30, 2025

Microsoft on Wednesday committed to boosting its presence in Europe and protecting European citizens' data against a backdrop of rising "geopolitical volatility".

The tech titan's pledges come as the return of President Donald Trump has upended the relationship between the United States and Europe, reversing decades of US policy.

Trump has taken umbrage over the European Union's rules against Big Tech -- dominated by US giants including Microsoft -- threatening retaliation against any moves.

But Microsoft President Brad Smith struck a positive note during a visit to Brussels.

"We are at a moment in time when business needs to be a bridge across the Atlantic," Smith said.

Microsoft is expanding its data centre operations in 16 European countries and help build an artificial intelligence "ecosystem" on the continent.

It also wants to establish partnerships with European cloud players. Currently, US tech firms -- Amazon, Google and Microsoft -- dominated the cloud market in Europe.

But Europe's dependence on US tech has been called into question since Trump's return and threats to impose tariffs, take over Greenland and cut support for Ukraine.

The worry is that Washington could use its tech dominance as a weapon in any standoff with Brussels if transatlantic ties, already strained, deteriorate further.

For example, Europeans worry access to US servers could possibly be cut if Trump, whose ties with tech titans have grown, opted to use this leverage.

Microsoft's Smith alluded to this scenario in a blog post published on Wednesday without ever naming Trump, describing it as "unlikely" to occur.

But, Smith vowed, if Microsoft was asked to suspend or cease cloud operations in Europe, it would "promptly and vigorously contest such a measure".

"We are committing today that if any government anywhere in the world ever issues an order that seeks to compel Microsoft to suspend or cease operations and support for Europe out of our data centres here, we will go to court," Smith said in Brussels.

"We appreciate that it is a real concern of people across Europe," he added.

Related Links
Cyberwar - Internet Security News - Systems and Policy Issues

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
CYBER WARS
S. Korea says DeepSeek transferred data to Chinese company without consent
Seoul (AFP) April 24, 2025
Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek was transferring personal data to a cloud services platform without users' consent while it was still available for download, South Korea's data protection authority said on Thursday. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) said the information, which included device, network and user inputs in AI prompts, was transferred to servers at Beijing platform Volcano Engine. DeepSeek's R1 chatbot stunned investors and industry insiders in Janua ... read more

CYBER WARS
How can an electricity network go down in five seconds?

Finland says supports EU goal to cut emissions 90 percent by 2040

UN, Brazil to hold virtual summit Wednesday ahead of COP30

Gunmen attack Chinese-owned power plant site in Chile

CYBER WARS
Australia launches "world's largest" battery-power ship

ITER completes record breaking superconducting magnet system for fusion energy

Microscale weld imaging unlocks improved durability for fusion power plants

Indonesia says China's Huayou to replace LGES in EV battery project

CYBER WARS
Norway's Equinor slams 'unlawful' halt to US wind farm

US halts Equinor's huge New York offshore wind project

Chinese energy giant Goldwind posts annual growth as overseas drive deepens

Clean energy giant Goldwind leads China's global sector push

CYBER WARS
Laminated structure boosts interface stability in inverted perovskite solar cells

Saharan dust clouds cast uncertainty on Europe's solar power growth

US solar tariffs could drive Asia transition boom

In US, saving money is top reason to embrace solar power

CYBER WARS
AI driven algorithm streamlines next generation nuclear reactor shielding design

Spain nuclear plants in 'safe' shutdown mode after blackout

New reactor model unlocks deeper insights into molten salt reactor dynamics

Top uranium producer Namibia to open talks on nuclear energy plant

CYBER WARS
Bacteria breathe electricity unlocking bioenergy and clean tech potential

Difficult energy transition looms without major EU investment in biomass

Turning wood waste into ultra strong material

Tunisian startup turns olive waste into clean energy

CYBER WARS
'Bombshell' OPEC+ output hike hits oil price

Shell net profit sinks 35% in first-quarter as oil prices fall

Moss method revives Canadian oil well sites into carbon-storing peatlands

U.S. sanctions vessels, firms providing Houthis with support

CYBER WARS
US climate assessment in doubt as Trump dismisses authors

US climate assessment thrown into doubt as Trump dismisses authors

Don't make 'disappointing' retreat on climate, COP30 CEO urges EU

Trump scraps US office on climate diplomacy

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.