European Union unveils 'tech sovereignty' package to reduce dependence on American AI services and Asian microchips

The 27-nation EU bloc announced a tech sovereignty package on Wednesday with measures to promote homegrown European alternatives to Big Tech services and hardware, driven by concerns that foreign technologies could be 'weaponized' against Europeans.

Key components include a sequel to the EU's 2023 Chips Act to boost local semiconductor production, and plans to triple Europe's data center capacity over the next five to seven years to support cloud and AI development.

The proposals must still be debated by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union before implementation.