The French government has announced that all public officials will immediately cease using American-owned video conferencing software and transition to a new French-developed application, marking the latest step by European leaders to reduce reliance on U.S. digital infrastructure and enhance national data sovereignty.
The decision, effective from February 1, 2026, was confirmed by the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the General Secretariat for Defence and National Security (SGDSN) in a joint statement released on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.
All U.S.-based platforms including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Cisco Webex, and similar services are banned for official government communications, including ministerial meetings, inter-agency coordination, and classified discussions.
The replacement is “Tchap Pro” (an upgraded, fully sovereign version of the existing Tchap secure messenger developed by the French government in 2019). Tchap Pro now includes full video conferencing capabilities, end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge architecture, and hosting exclusively on French soil.
The government cited “serious and recurring risks” related to foreign access to sensitive communications, data sovereignty concerns under U.S. laws (notably the CLOUD Act), and the need to protect national security in an increasingly tense geopolitical environment.
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The ban applies to all ministries, public administrations, state-owned enterprises, and elected officials when conducting official business. Private use remains unaffected.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin and Digital Affairs Minister Marina Ferrari jointly stated: “France will no longer entrust its sovereign communications to foreign companies subject to extraterritorial laws. Tchap Pro guarantees confidentiality, security, and full control by French authorities. This is not about isolation it is about independence.”
France becomes the first EU country to impose a full ban on U.S. video conferencing tools for government use, potentially setting a precedent for other nations.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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