Dutch governments caught off guard by American tech firm buying Dutch cloud company
Dutch government bodies were unpleasantly surprised by news that an American tech firm has acquired the Dutch cloud company Solvinity, the Financieele Dagblad reported. Several governments opted for working with Solvinity precisely to reduce dependence on American technology firms.
Solvinity works primarily for Dutch government bodies and provides cloud services. The company is involved in managing DigiD and MijnOverheid, among other things. It also provides secure internet access to the Ministry of Justice and Security. The municipality of Amsterdam recently partnered with Solvinity, partly because it wasn’t in American hands. The Dutch Gambling Authority is also a client.
Last week, the American tech company Kyndryl announced it was acquiring Solvinity for an undisclosed amount, proving that even opting for non-American service providers is not a guarantee. The Ministry of Justice and Security told FD that it was investigating “the possible consequences for our collaboration.” Amsterdam said it was “unpleasantly surprised.”
In the Netherlands and other European countries, there are growing calls for sovereignty when it comes to technology. Experts are concerned about governments’ reliance on American tech companies and the United States authorities being able to access their data.
Solvinity CEO Daniëlle Schuur told FD that the company is “aware of market sentiment,” but she declined to comment on potential risks for clients if Solvinity were to be absorbed into an American company.
