After the State, the Citizens.
linux4all calls for a nationwide movement to strengthen everyday digital sovereignty
The French Interministerial Digital Directorate (DINUM) has made its decision. By announcing on April 8, 2026 the migration of all government workstations to Linux, the French State has sent an unprecedented message: dependence on American software has become a genuine strategic risk, and action must be taken now.
linux4all, a European association founded to promote free and open digital technologies across Europe, welcomes this decision and issues a broader call: digital sovereignty is not only a matter for governments.
€264 billion. Every single year.
This is the amount European companies and public administrations pay each year to American software and cloud service providers. A significant share of this spending also comes from private individuals and small businesses, many of whom are simply unaware that credible alternatives already exist.
linux4all: Bringing Digital Sovereignty to Everyone
"The State is leading the way. Our mission is to make that path accessible to everyone," says Éric Le Bihan, co-founder of linux4all. "Millions of people replace perfectly functional computers every year because they believe they have no alternative. That simply isn't true. A ten-year-old PC running Linux is often faster, safer and more cost-effective than a brand-new Windows 11 computer requiring a Microsoft 365 subscription."
A coordinated strategy on three fronts
Public awareness: a multi-channel campaign (traditional media and social networks) built around the message — "Free your PC. Forever."
Linux Angels: a network of trained experts helping individuals and businesses migrate to Linux, supported by multilingual AI assistance powered by the European AI model Mistral 4.
Accessible hardware: partnerships with European refurbishers to provide Linux pre-installed computers starting from just €150.
2030 Goal: ×4
With a current desktop market share of around 4% in Europe, Linux remains significantly underrepresented considering its maturity. linux4all aims to reach 16% by 2030, an ambitious yet evidence-based objective supported by successful initiatives such as Catalonia (120,000 migrated PCs), the French National Gendarmerie (GendBuntu since 2008), and the German State of Schleswig-Holstein (25,000 workstations migrated, completed in 2025).
Join the Movement
linux4all invites companies, organizations and public authorities to join the initiative as founding partners. The association will also participate in the Digital Industry Meetings organized by DINUM in June 2026, marking the first major public-private gathering dedicated to French and European digital sovereignty.