LinuxiacFrance is transitioning government desktops to Linux, with each ministry required to formalize its implementation plan by autumn 2026.
https://linuxiac.com/france-launches-government-linux-desktop-plan-as-windows-exit-begins/
Thomas Depierre@linuxiac hmm actually, as a french, I am not sure this say that all ministers will move to Linux. It can be interpreted as only saying that the DINUM own workstations will move to Linux. This is a far smaller park, mostly of people already working on the IT stuff itself
Kevin RussellNo. Its very clear.
"The press release also requires each ministry, including public operators, to develop a plan by autumn 2026 addressing desktop systems, collaboration tools, antivirus software, AI, databases, virtualization, and network equipment."
"Each ministry."👈
Very clear.
"As the announcement comes directly from DINUM, which oversees digital strategy across ministries,👉 it holds greater significance than a local pilot or isolated administrative project."👈
Greg Price@kevinrns @Di4na @linuxiac Unfortunately that's not what the original source says (which they helpfully link to):
https://www.numerique.gouv.fr/sinformer/espace-presse/souverainete-numerique-reduction-dependances-extra-europeennes/
The move off Windows to Linux is specifically for the DINUM itself. The mandate for all ministries is much looser: a plan for "reduction of extra-European dependencies".
That can mean a lot of things. The DINUM Linux migration is one of three examples they give; the other two are about various SaaS services.
derptron@gregprice @kevinrns @Di4na @linuxiac Your explanation makes way more sense. The effort to formulate a government wide implementation plan to replace Windows with Linux on all desktop computers would probably take considerably longer than the time being given. Tossing together some upper level "plan" to reduce cost though...probably achievable.
@crazyeddie @kevinrns @Di4na @linuxiac Yeah. It's not mostly about costs, though: the catchphrase is "digital sovereignty", meaning not being subject to foreign control.
Down at the end, a minister is quoted saying: "We must decouple ourselves from American tools and take back control of our digital destiny. … We can no longer accept that our data, our infrastructure, and our strategic decisions depend on solutions of which we don't control the rules, nor the rates, nor the evolution, nor the risks."
So although it's possible (even likely) that cost savings help the medicine go down, those aren't the main objective.
@crazyeddie @kevinrns @Di4na @linuxiac One of the things I think everyone involved in that policy has in mind is last year when the current US administration ordered Microsoft to cut off the email account of a European official working in Europe for an international institution, because it didn't like that institution doing its job:
https://apnews.com/article/icc-trump-sanctions-karim-khan-court-a4b4c02751ab84c09718b1b95cbd5db3
That was all over French news when it happened, and for good reason. I think it radicalized a lot of Europeans on this subject, showing that the use of perfectly ordinary tools could be turned into a weapon if they're run by a US company.
Trump's sanctions on ICC prosecutor have halted tribunal's work
Nearly three months ago, U.S. President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan. He has lost access to his email and his bank accounts have been frozen. American staffers at The Hague-based court also have been told that if they travel to the U.S. they risk arrest. In addition, some nongovernmental organizations have stopped working with the ICC. Rights groups say these problems will prevent victims of war crimes from getting justice.