European Officials Warn of US Kill‑Switch Risk and China‑Led Orbital Computing Gap

A Proton study found that 74% of European business leaders fear a U.S. "kill switch" that could abruptly cut off access to essential technologies. European Parliament members such as Christophe Grudler and Aura Salla warned that reliance on foreign platforms leaves Europe vulnerable, while European Commission Vice‑President for tech sovereignty Henna Virkkunen said the EU wants sensitive services and data kept under European control.

A separate report by the European Space Policy Institute highlighted a growing gap in orbital computing. It warned that U.S. companies and China’s state‑backed initiatives are rapidly building space‑based data centers, while Europe remains focused on research and small‑scale demos. China’s ADAspace, in partnership with Zhejiang Lab, has already launched dozens of satellites for a planned 2,800‑satellite network, and other Chinese firms are pursuing similar projects. The report cautioned that Europe could become dependent on foreign orbital infrastructure unless it accelerates its own development.