The EU plans to propose strict criteria for cloud computing in highly critical state tenders that could exclude Amazon, Microsoft, and Google from such projects, according to documents seen by Reuters. The proposal is part of the European Commission's Cloud and AI Development Act, set to be unveiled Wednesday as part of a push to reduce the bloc's dependence on U.S. tech. It introduces mandatory “non-price” criteria for public tenders in sensitive sectors like banking, energy, and healthcare, including requirements for EU-developed software and hardware, driven partly by concerns over the U.S. Cloud Act, which compels American providers to grant authorities access to data even when stored abroad. The three companies hold a combined global cloud market share of over 60%. The plan still needs backing from the EU's 27 countries and the European Parliament.
