France champions digital sovereignty with open‑source software

French politicians across the spectrum are rallying behind the idea that free and open‑source software is essential for achieving digital sovereignty. The issue gained urgency after the U.S. AI firm Anthropic temporarily blocked its most powerful models from foreign users, prompting leaders such as Jean‑Luc Mélenchon, Jordan Bardella and Gabriel Attal to call for greater independence in the digital domain.

Experts argue that true sovereignty is less about national ownership of companies and more about a robust legal framework that ensures foreign actors comply with local laws, protect citizen data and secure critical infrastructure. They contend that economic performance, not mere nationality, underpins a nation's influence, and that attracting the best global firms while enforcing clear rules may be a more effective path than building domestic equivalents of every major tech player.