Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the formation of a new European organization aimed at addressing the growing unease among European customers regarding data sovereignty issues with American hyperscalers. The move comes in response to concerns raised by customers in Europe following the administration of “Trump 2.0” and its unpredictable foreign policy decisions.
The new entity, known as the European Sovereign Cloud (ESC), will be locally run, Euro-controlled, and legally independent. It is set to be operational by the end of 2025 and will provide strong technical controls, sovereign assurances, and legal protections to ensure data security and privacy for European customers.
The AWS ESC will have a locally controlled parent company with three subsidiaries incorporated in Germany. Kathrin Renz, an AWS Industries VP based in Munich, will lead the operation as the first managing director of the ESC. The organization will also include a government security official and a privacy official, all of whom are EU citizens. An independent advisory board consisting of four members, all EU citizens residing in the EU, will oversee the ESC operations to ensure accountability and security.
One of the key features of the ESC is its ability to continue operations independently in the event of a connectivity interruption between the ESC and the rest of the world. The organization will have its own dedicated Domain Name System (DNS) and a European Certificate Authority to ensure secure communications within the cloud environment.
Despite these measures, the parent company of the ESC will remain under American ownership and may be subject to the Cloud Act, which requires U.S. companies to comply with data requests from law enforcement authorities, regardless of where the data is stored. This raises concerns about the extent of data protection and privacy that the ESC can guarantee to its European customers.
The launch of the AWS ESC reflects a broader trend in the tech industry towards establishing localized and sovereign cloud services to address data sovereignty concerns and comply with regional regulations. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, ensuring data security, privacy, and compliance with local laws will remain a top priority for businesses and consumers alike.
In conclusion, the establishment of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud unit represents a significant step towards addressing data sovereignty concerns in Europe. By providing a locally controlled and legally independent cloud infrastructure, AWS aims to reassure European customers about the security and privacy of their data in the wake of geopolitical uncertainties.
References:
1. “AWS forms EU-based cloud unit as customers fret about Trump 2.0” – The Register
Link: https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/03/aws_european_sovereign_cloud/
2. “AWS Forms EU-Based Cloud Unit As Customers Fret” – Slashdot
Link: https://slashdot.org/story/25/06/03/2024222/aws-forms-eu-based-cloud-unit-as-customers-fret?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed
