German state of Schleswig-Holstein ditches Windows, Microsoft Office for Linux and LibreOffice

Schleswig-Holstein, Germany’s most northern state, is starting its switch from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice, and is planning to move from Windows to Linux on the 30,000 PCs it uses for local government functions.

The announcement (in German) was made yesterday by the state’s Minister-President Daniel Gunther, who has served in that position since 2017. According to a translated version of the announcement, independence was a key motivation for switching to open source software.

This is unlike the reasons that were given by Munich and Lower Saxony which were stayed to be cost savings, and then Microsoft discounted their services. Back when LiMux started, it was mostly seen as a way to save money. Now the focus is far more on data protection, privacy and security. Consider that the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) recently found that the European Commission’s use of Microsoft 365 breaches data protection law for EU institutions and bodies.”

See https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/04/germanys_northernmost_state_ditches_windows/
#Blog, #datasovereignty, #germany, #opensource, #technology

EU Data Protection Board probes public sector use of cloud – Privacy: We’ve heard of it. Do you know where your data is?

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has kicked off its first coordinated enforcement action, taking a long, hard look at the use of cloud-based services by the public sector.

The EDPB is concerned that the services obtained might not comply with rules concerning the protection of personal data. Hence, the requirement that Supervising Authorities (SA) “explore public bodies’ challenges with GDPR compliance when using cloud-based services.”

“Regardless of whether the cloud provider is a processor or independent data controller, If the cloud is outside the UK or EEA then the data transfer provisions of the GDPR need to be followed through. The French regulator, CNIL, has begun enforcement action against Google Analytics.”

See https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/15/edpb_cloud/

#technology #cloudstorage #EU #datasovereignty
#Blog, ##cloudstorage, ##datasovereigny, ##eu, ##technology

Astra Linux is a Russian Linux-based computer operating system developed to meet the sovereignty needs of Russia (One of many BRICS countries to implement their own OS)

The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) had resolved in the mid-2000's to each implement their own operating system which would utilise local skills and services to ensure full sovereignty and control over the operating systems in use by not only their governments, but also their defence, intelligence, energy sectors, etc.

Apart from the local economic investment and sovereignty, such a local OS based on open source would mean having no outflow of foreign exchange (or the possibility of foreign security backdoors being introduced), and would also boost innovation within their own country. Such innovation is not only present with local companies being paid to support and enhance the software, but also that any other local businesses can freely use the software to kick-start their own businesses operations without the ongoing and annually increasing subscription payments to a foreign company.

Similarly, China had produced Ubuntu Kylin OS (ongoing), Brazil announced similar plans, India launched their BOSS OS, and South Africa created Impi Linux OS which attracted investment by Mark Shuttleworth, but it was bought out by Business Connection and discontinued in 2008. Interestingly, in South Africa's case, Impi Linux made it into the private sector, and it was rolled out from June 2005 within Exclusive Books which is a large private book retailer for use on their point of sale terminals.

See Astra Linux - Wikipedia

#technology #opensource #russia #BRICS #datasovereignty

Astra Linux is a Russian Linux-based computer operating system (OS) developed to meet the needs of the Russian army, other armed forces and intelligence agencies.[1] It provides data protection up to the level of "top secret" in Russian classified information grade. It has been officially certified by Russian Defense Ministry, Federal Service for...

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https://gadgeteer.co.za/astra-linux-russian-linux-based-computer-operating-system-developed-meet-sovereignty-needs-russia