EU tried to escape “Microslop,” but its own staff hate the Microsoft Teams alternative, warning the US would “instantly win the war”
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
The European Commission has trialed Element Pro, a self‑hosted alternative to Microsoft Teams, since summer as part of a digital‑sovereignty push. Despite its promise of data control, EU staff have largely rejected it, with one official calling it “absolute sht” and another questioning its added value. Teams remains the Commission’s primary communication tool, and the backlash highlights the difficulty of replacing a deeply entrenched, resource‑intensive platform. The criticism underscores the tension between sovereignty goals and user experience.
💡 Why It Matters
- · The EU’s struggle to find a viable Teams replacement exposes the limits of open‑source solutions in high‑stakes government environments.
- · It signals that achieving digital sovereignty may require more than policy, demanding robust, user‑friendly alternatives that can match established services.