european commission2 articles
EC Staff Are Complaining About Their Teams Backup. They Should Probably Worry About Bigger Things.
The European Commission is deploying Element Pro, a self-hosted messaging platform built on the open-source Matrix standard, as a backup to Microsoft Teams rather than a replacement, giving the EC greater control over its communications infrastructure. The move is a straightforward business-continuity measure driven by digital sovereignty concerns, particularly the risk that US tech companies could be ordered to cut off services to European users. Despite predictable complaints from change-resistant staff, the author argues the short-term inconvenience is a reasonable trade-off for reducing dependence on externally operated platforms in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.
Oracle Could Be Next Under the EU Microscope After SAP Licensing Climbdown
The European Commission is reportedly examining Oracle's software licensing practices as a potential precursor to a formal investigation, following a similar probe into SAP that resulted in binding commitments from the German company. Oracle's licensing practices have long drawn criticism, particularly its 2023 Java SE subscription model — which charges based on total employee count rather than actual usage — and its Unlimited License Agreements, which some advisors say lock customers in and limit competition. While the EC confirmed there is currently no formal investigation into any company, it stated it would continue monitoring for anti-competitive conduct in the enterprise software sector.