German digital rights groups and tech companies will start organising “digital independence days” in 2026 to help users move away from US tech platforms, starting from this Sunday, a leading hacker organisation said.
Announcing the initiative at its annual conference over the weekend, the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) said the project aims to loosen what it described as the “chokehold” of US technology companies on Europe, which is damaging democracy.
The CCC, known for taking strong, often critical positions on digital policy, linked the initiative to growing transatlantic tensions over tech regulation.
It pointed in particular to the European Commission’s recent €120 million fine on Elon Musk’s X, and the US’s ensuing travel ban on several European figures, including former Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.
“This is not about one platform any longer, but about influence on public debates, democratic processes and European rule of law,” wrote CCC. Arguing that public authorities have so far been reluctant to leave X, the group said individual users should set an example by switching away from US-owned services.
To help them in doing so, a coalition of public figures, digital rights groups, and European companies will organise monthly “digital independence days”.
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CCC members in local chapters throughout Germany will assist users, for example, in switching their browsers from Google’s Chrome to Firefox or from Elon Musk’s X to Mastodon, a European-run decentralised social media network.
Mastodon, as well as Germany’s Ecosia, a search engine, and Nextcloud, a cloud and office suite provider, are themselves taking part in organising the “digital independence” push.
CCC did not immediately respond to Euractiv’s request for information on whether it was also planning events outside of Germany.
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