- 74% of Britons are worried about Europe’s dependence on US apps and services
- 57% say they will switch to European alternatives when possible
- Misconceptions about privacy persist, Proton says
With geopolitical tensions between the US and Europe dominating the headlines, Britons are becoming increasingly wary of their reliance on Silicon Valley. According to research released today by Swiss privacy firm Proton, trust in US-based tech giants is eroding, paving the way for a shift towards “digital sovereignty”.
The survey of 1,000 British respondents reveals that 76% have followed the latest political and economic friction between the two regions. For 55% of these observers, the news cycle has directly increased their preference for European-made software over American counterparts.
This is not just a theoretical concern. The data shows that 74% of Brits believe that Europe is overly dependent on US apps, and an equal percentage are worried about that fact. With data protection often legally separated between the US and the UK/EU, users are waking up to the reality that where their data lives matters as much as what it contains.
Raphael Auphan, Chief Operating Officer at Proton, the provider behind one of the best VPN and secure email services, believes the study highlights “a turning point.”
He said: “Recent geopolitical developments undermine confidence in US-based platforms and reinforce the perception that European solutions are needed to ensure digital autonomy and data protection.”
“The Privacy Paradox”
Despite this growing skepticism, the study highlights a dangerous gap between user perception and technical reality.
While 92% of respondents cited “security against hacking” and 88% cited “privacy protection” as their top priorities when choosing an app, many remain unaware of how their current tools work.
Strikingly, 57% of respondents mistakenly understood Gmail to be “very private” or “somewhat private”. This discrepancy is concerning, as ad-supported platforms often rely on data scanning to function, while services such as Proton Mail use end-to-end encryption to ensure that even the service provider cannot access the content of communications.
If the appetite for change is great, why aren’t more defectors? The biggest obstacle is simply knowing where to go. The survey found that 67% of respondents had not heard of European-based alternatives to mainstream apps such as email services and cloud storage.
Convenience also plays a big role. 40% of users admitted they were simply “too used to” their current services, while 24% feared it would take too much time to switch.
But the incentives to switch are becoming clearer. Respondents noted that stronger data protection (55%) and greater trust in data processing (52%) were the primary benefits driving them towards European technology.
Best European Alternatives to US Tech
If you’re part of the 57% who want to switch but don’t know where to start, a robust ecosystem of privacy-first tools has been built in Europe.
The most direct competitor to Google’s ecosystem is Proton itself. With Proton Mail, Proton Drive and Proton VPN, you get Swiss-based security that is strictly no-logs and end-to-end encrypted. For those who need secure email with a focus on ease of use, Germany-based Tuta is another excellent encrypted option.
To escape Chrome’s tracking, look at the Mullvad browser. Developed in collaboration with the Tor project by the Swedish VPN company, it is designed to minimize tracking and fingerprinting. The Icelandic Vivaldi browser also offers deep customization without the invasive practices of the American tech giants.
Even artificial intelligence has European candidates. Proton recently launched a new privacy-focused AI chatbot that offers a secure alternative to ChatGPT.
For a broader look at what’s available, the European Alternatives catalog tracks compatible software across the continent.
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