Ditching Silicon Valley for Strasbourg?

With the re-election of Donald Trump and the influence of wealthy billionaires, Europe yet again finds itself pondering upon its digital sovereignty. The prospect of American monopoly tech giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft tightening their grip on European data and digital industries has prompted a response from both EU policymakers and tech enthusiasts to rally for homegrown alternatives.

With privacy scandals, data breaches, and social media wars dominating headlines – never mind the fears of election interference – a question arises: Is the time finally ripe to buy European online services?

The first sign of increased interest towards European-based digital services is the uptick of visitors to sites like European Alternatives – a platform dedicated to presenting European Alternatives ranging from cloud services to video hosting and captcha services among others.

 

 

This goes beyond petty nationalism, though. Europe’s digital sovereignty is not just a buzzword. It presents a strategic imperative.

For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force in 2018. The GDPR is a bold declaration that individuals retain ownership of their personal data, and any entity handling it must have a legitimate justification in doing so.

The GDPR is particularly significant in light of major American tech giants like Meta and Google, which are often accused of turning data into a commodity to be exploited at their will.

Of course, the GDPR is not the only initiative the EU has issued so far. In 2021, Gaia-X, an ambitious data infrastructure project designed to keep the digital economy homegrown and secure, was implemented.

Gaia-X aims to create a decentralized and federated system where European companies – and even governments – can store and share data securely, free from the grip of American corporations.

With this background in mind, what are some European alternatives for day-to-day online services?

Browsers

If you have had enough of Google tracking your every move, it may be time to consider switching from Chrome to the Norwegian browser, Vivaldi. Developed by the same team behind Opera, Vivaldi offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tweak everything from the user interface to tab management, all while keeping users’ browsing experience private.

Although Firefox also prioritize user privacy, it collects data. However, due to their open-source nature, it is transparent as to what kind of data is being collected and whether it is properly anonymized.

But if you are looking for something with a more European flair – and without a lingering corporate influence – Vivaldi might answer the call.

Search Engines

While moving away from Chrome provides some privacy benefits from Google, using Google’s search engine will not only provide answers but also harvest your data for ad targeting.

Enter Startpage, a Dutch search engine that gives users Google’s search results while avoiding their intrusive tracking. It functions similarly to Google, but without compromising users’ privacy. If you are looking to browse the internet with a search engine that respects anonymity and avoids tracking your online activity, Startpage offers a reliable European alternative.

Ecosia – the self-proclaimed greenest Browser on Earth – is another solid option. Ecosia is a German non-profit that has dedicated almost €100 million to climate action and planted over 200 million trees in over 35 countries alongside small, local organizations.

Furthermore, Ecosia uses renewables to power its servers and invests profits in tree-planting projects to absorb more CO₂ than it emits. As a non-profit, Ecosia also publishes its financial reports publicly every month.

Navigation Apps

Google Maps and their subsidiary Waze are well renowned for their navigation services internationally. But alternatives that cater to a larger variety of needs from privacy to outdoor exploration do exist.

Here are a few European examples:

HERE WeGO is a Dutch navigation service that is straightforward and offers directions while walking, driving, and public transport. Much like Google Maps, the app has offline map capabilities and is an easy-to-recommend and use, privacy-conscious alternative to the usual suspects.

If you are an outdoor activities enthusiast, Germany’s navigation app, komoot, could be your go-to for hiking and biking trails. Komoot also allows its users to create custom routes that best fit those willing to take the road less traveled.

Translation Services

Google Translate has been the dominant translation service for years now. But is the European competition any good?

If you are a business looking to translate an official document in one of the 24 official EU languages as well as Arabic, Chinese, Icelandic, Japanese, Norwegian, Russian, Turkish, and Ukrainian, eTransation might be the answer!

eTranslation is a machine translation service provided by the European Commission available for use by public administrations, small and medium-sized enterprises, academia, and NGOs.

Usage of this service, however, requires registration.

DeepL on the other hand is an open-to-all machine translation app that offers high-quality translations, especially between European languages.

DeepL offers a free and a Pro plan; with the free plan allowing you to translate up to 1500 characters, as well as up to 10 glossary entries, while the Pro plan removes limitations and adds additional data security.

Or maybe you still need Google Translate…

European digital services are still in their awkward “teenage years.” Although the groundwork has been laid and Europe has made great strides in offering privacy-focused and user-friendly alternatives in areas like browsers, search engines, and translation services, the truth is that they are still in their early days.

These European solutions show significant promise but have a long way to go in terms of matching the seamless integration and expansive ecosystems controlled by tech giants like Google, Apple, and Microsoft.

For now, European alternatives may not completely replace the established giants. But maybe that is not the ultimate goal. Rather, allowing for some breathing room for local entrepreneurs.

 

Editors: Niya Manditsch and Spasiela Gizdova