Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has confirmed that European customer data will be processed exclusively in data centers located within the European Union. The declaration by the tech giant's chief aligns with the ongoing debate about Europe's digital sovereignty and growing concerns about data security. The announcement covers all Microsoft services, including artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on the Azure cloud computing platform. The company's move aims to ensure compliance with EU regulations, primarily the General Data Protection Regulation.

Data Localization in the EU

Satya Nadella declared that European user data for Microsoft services will be processed and stored exclusively in data centers located within the European Union. This applies to both corporate and individual customers.

The Issue of Digital Sovereignty

The Microsoft CEO's statement is a response to the political debate concerning the digital sovereignty of the Old Continent. The European Union is striving for greater control over the flow and storage of its citizens' data, especially outside its borders.

Security and GDPR Compliance

The decision to process data locally aims to ensure compliance with EU law, particularly with the strict General Data Protection Regulation. It is also meant to address customer concerns about information security in the context of global data flows.

Impact on AI Services

The announcement also covers data used by artificial intelligence services offered by Microsoft, such as Azure OpenAI Service. Locating AI infrastructure in Europe is intended to guarantee transparency and control over the model training process.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has assured that European customer data will be processed and stored exclusively in data centers located within the European Union. This statement, repeated in several interviews with German media, is a direct response to growing expectations in Europe regarding digital sovereignty and control over sensitive information. Nadella emphasized that the company respects EU values and regulations, including the GDPR. The debate about Europe's digital sovereignty has intensified in recent years, especially after Edward Snowden's revelations about the scale of the US PRISM surveillance program and in connection with the development of artificial intelligence based on large datasets. The European Union is consistently striving for greater technological autonomy, as seen in initiatives such as GAIA-X, the European data cloud. Microsoft's assurances cover all its services, including the Azure cloud platform and artificial intelligence tools. The company aims to build trust among both public institutions and corporate customers, who often process data subject to special protection. In the context of AI development, locating infrastructure in Europe is also intended to ensure transparency regarding the source of data used to train models. This step fits into the broader strategy of tech giants, who are adjusting their policies to increasingly stringent regulations in key markets.

Mentioned People

  • Satya Nadella — Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corporation.