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# France Just Created Its Own Open Source Alternative to Microsoft Teams and Zoom
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/france-ditches-microsoft-teams-and-zoom/
- Published: 2026-01-30T13:24:33.000Z
- Updated: 2026-02-04T14:10:01.000Z
- Description: Not only for them, but any other non-European videoconferencing software.
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: News, Europe Spotlight, #publish-date

France has decided that it is done using US-based videoconferencing software across its governmental organizations. Come 2027, **every French government department will use Visio** instead of Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Webex, or any other non-European platform.

Part of the [La Suite Numérique](https://lasuite.numerique.gouv.fr/?ref=itsfoss.com) initiative, [Visio](https://github.com/suitenumerique/meet?ref=itsfoss.com) has been in testing for a year now, handling 40,000 users across different departments. It is **an MIT-licensed open source app** that claims to offer "*Zoom-level performance*" with a high-quality video and audio experience.

And, not to mention that **this will run on French infrastructure** with them retaining full control over the data and how it is processed. Data sovereignty for the win, I guess?

![Visio: French Open Source Alternative to Microsoft Teams and Zoom](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2026/02/visio-french-video-conferencing.jpg)

When asked **what their goal was**, [David Amiel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David%5FAmiel?ref=itsfoss.com), the Minister for the Civil Service and State Reform, [stated that](https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/01/27/france-to-ditch-us-platforms-microsoft-teams-zoom-for-sovereign-platform-amid-security-con?ref=itsfoss.com):

> The aim is to end the use of non-European solutions and guarantee the security and confidentiality of public electronic communications by relying on a powerful and sovereign tool.

This is not the first time the French have tried to do something about the dominance of [Big Tech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big%5FTech?ref=itsfoss.com) in their country. Last year, in July, [the city of Lyon](https://itsfoss.com/news/french-city-replaces-microsoft/) started the process of ditching Microsoft in favor of [ONLYOFFICE](https://www.onlyoffice.com/?ref=itsfoss.com) and an undisclosed Linux-based operating system.

So things are looking up. BUT.

## This is Not Enough

While this move is good, **it is a bit mild**. Take a look over the border, and you will see that [a German state is on track to save €15 million each year](https://itsfoss.com/news/german-state-ditch-microsoft/) by ditching Microsoft 365 and opting for [LibreOffice](https://itsfoss.com/libreoffice-tips/).

📋

The French estimate they will save €1 million per 100,000 users annually.

Denmark has already [committed to switching to LibreOffice](https://itsfoss.com/news/denmark-set-to-replace-microsoft/), while Switzerland's data protection authorities [have sounded an alarm](https://itsfoss.com/news/privatim-declares-international-cloud-unsuitable/), calling for the Swiss government to reconsider their use of international cloud services for handling sensitive data.

You see how their de-Bigtechification journey is progressing?

While I am throwing shade at the French government, they could take pointers from their neighbors, can't they? If it saves taxpayer money, where's the harm in that?