Bavarian State Pays €360 Million to Microsoft

Bavaria Microsoft public sector spending Cloud Act digital sovereignty

The Free State of Bavaria has transferred roughly €360 million to the U.S. software giant Microsoft over an eight‑year period. Between 2020 and 2025 the state spent more than €258 million on Microsoft products and services, and the 2026/27 double‑budget earmarks an additional €102 million for various ministries. Annual spending on Microsoft 365 and related cloud services more than doubled, rising from €8.8 million to €18.3 million.

SPD parliamentarian Florian von Brunn warned that the extensive use of Microsoft’s cloud exposes Bavarian administration to U.S. data‑access laws such as the Cloud Act, calling the arrangement “high‑risk”. He cited the need for sovereign alternatives and noted a state‑mandated deadline of 31 March 2027 for Bavarian authorities to develop non‑U.S. solutions.

The payments do not include amounts spent by Bavarian municipalities, which are reported separately.

Entities

Florian von Brunn · Free State of Bavaria · Microsoft Corp. · Microsoft Corporation · Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] SPD MP Florian von Brunn criticized Bavaria's Microsoft usage as risky under the U.S. Cloud Act. www.nordbayern.de · www.zeit.de · www.radioarabella.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Total payments from Bavaria to Microsoft over eight years amount to around €360 million. www.nordbayern.de · www.zeit.de · www.radioarabella.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Bavaria paid more than €258 million to Microsoft between 2020 and 2025 for products and services. www.nordbayern.de · www.zeit.de · www.radioarabella.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Bavaria must provide sovereign alternatives to Microsoft by March 2027, per a model project and a minister‑president conference decision. www.nordbayern.de · www.zeit.de · www.radioarabella.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Bavaria's 2026/27 budget includes about €102 million for Microsoft payments across various ministries. www.nordbayern.de · www.zeit.de · www.radioarabella.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Bavaria's 2022 law requires public authorities to use open‑source software for new digital procurements. www.nordbayern.de · www.zeit.de · www.radioarabella.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Spending on Microsoft 365 and cloud services grew from €8.8 million annually in 2020 to €18.3 million in 2025. www.nordbayern.de · www.zeit.de · www.radioarabella.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Expenditures of Bavarian municipalities for Microsoft are not included in the reported totals. www.nordbayern.de · www.zeit.de · www.radioarabella.de