Countries like France, Germany, and Denmark are moving parts of their government systems away from Google, Microsoft, and other US-based tech companies.
"So, what are they using instead, and which alternatives can you switch to today?"
Ditch Gmail
Gmail processes your emails with automated systems for features and security purposes.
- Proton Mail: Swiss-based Proton Mail has high privacy standards. It offers end-to-end encryption options. You can start with a free plan. You can move your particularly sensitive correspondence to Proton Mail.
Ditch Google Search
The searches you make on Google become part of personalization and advertising systems.
- DuckDuckGo: It does not track you or collect your data. It does not turn your searches into a user profile. It provides objective and independent search results.
Ditch Google Drive
Cloud data you keep with large US-based providers may fall under the jurisdiction of the US legal system.
- Proton Drive: It protects your files with end-to-end encryption. Your data is solely under your control. Proton Drive does not access your data. Basic storage space is free, and you can upgrade if you wish.
Ditch Chrome
It is one of the products at the center of the Google ecosystem and increasingly hosts more built-in features.
- Brave or Firefox: They block trackers and monitors by default. You can easily customize your privacy settings. Less tracking means less load and a faster browsing experience.
Ditch WhatsApp and iMessage
Although WhatsApp and iMessage belong to different companies, they create dependence on big tech companies for your messaging infrastructure.
- Signal: Only you and the other party can read the messages. No company intervenes. Its code can be inspected by anyone. No backdoors. It collects as little user data as possible. No ads, no profiling. It is non-profit. Your privacy is its priority.
Ditch Microsoft Office
If you want your documents to stay on your own computer as much as possible, there are non-cloud-based alternatives.
- LibreOffice: It is completely free. It is developed by the community. It works without needing an internet connection. It is compatible with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats.
Ditch Google Maps
It personalizes your experience using your location and search history.
- Organic Maps or Osmand: Both applications use independent, community-supported OpenStreetMap data. By downloading maps in advance, you can get directions even without an internet connection. They do not collect your location history, show ads, or track you. They do not strain your device and consume less battery.
The situation in Türkiye, however, is quite dire because almost all of the tools we mentioned are actively used in the business world. Even though an open-source operating system (Pardus) is being developed with government support, eliminating this dependency overnight does not seem very possible because changing habits is harder than it appears.