Following Denmark’s lead, Germany’s Schleswig-Holstein state will ban Microsoft programs (Windows, Office, Teams) from government work by 2026, citing data privacy and vendor lock-in concerns. The move is part of a broader push toward open-source alternatives like LibreOffice and Linux-based OS. The state plans a two-phase migration:

1. 2024-2025: Pilot projects with Nextcloud, OpenOffice, and Thundermail
2. 2026: Full transition, prioritizing sovereign digital infrastructure

The decision follows EU data sovereignty regulations and growing distrust of U.S. cloud providers. Critics warn of transition costs, but proponents argue long-term security and cost savings.