Open source is experiencing real revenge, shifting from a niche alternative to a leading player in technological innovation, even in European and non-EU governments. The recent success of Deepseek, a groundbreaking model built using free software, proved that “open” solutions can compete and even surpass the most advanced proprietary “closed” solutions. This shift is changing the big ICT players’ strategies, but the most applicable change has to do with open source among governments, who are increasingly using open source based on technological independence, security, transparency and economic efficiency grounds.

Open source in government: a strategic change

Increasing dependence on proprietary software has been a danger to public administrations for a long time, tying them to one provider and inhibiting innovation. Open source offers a concrete alternative, with more technological independence, reducing lock-in with private companies and allowing administrations to adapt and customize the software to their needs without being tied by restrictive contracts. Enhanced security due to open scrutiny of the codebase, overcoming unknown backdoors or malicious content. Larger dynamic ecosystems, as a by-product of collaboration between government, business and developers, accelerate software development and maintenance. Cost reduction is achieved by avoiding outrageous license payments for closed-source software and re-investing funds into innovative custom-designed solutions. Increased transparency is a natural characteristic of public administration, as open code allows citizens and experts to verify the functioning and security of the systems being used.

Real-life examples of governments going for open source

Governments all over the world are increasingly resorting to open source software in the spirit of efficiency, security and independence. Some key examples are as follows. France: “Open Source First” strategy. The French government has adopted an “open source first” policy, encouraging the use of free software throughout all public administrations. The Interministerial Directorate for Digital (DINUM) has since 2012 encouraged the gradual replacement of proprietary software with open-source options. Nextcloud is for cloud storage, instead of business offerings like Google Drive or Dropbox; LibreOffice will replace Microsoft Office; Linux and OpenStack will manage government servers. This policy has reduced the price of licenses and improved the nation’s IT security by preventing it from depending on US or Chinese companies.

Germany: sovereign cloud for digital sovereignty

The German government recently announced a sovereign cloud initiative based on open-source technologies such as OpenStack and Kubernetes. This initiative aims to reduce dependency on US big tech (such as Amazon AWS or Microsoft Azure) and ensure that government data are processed on nationally controlled infrastructures. Moreover, the city of Munich has traditionally employed LiMux, a Linux distribution specially developed for the needs of public administration, although it was later abandoned for political rather than technical reasons.

Brazil: open source for digital democracy

Brazil is one of the countries that has invested most in open source in public administration. The government, since 2003, promoted the adoption of free software by schools, state agencies and government online services. Expresso, for example, an open-source electronic mail system intended to replace licensed alternatives such as Microsoft Exchange, is a real manifestation. Brazil also embraced e-SUS, an e-system for managing healthcare data coded in open code, which provides more transparency and access to its citizens.

Open source and national security: a future priority

Cyber security is one of the most critical uses of open source software by governments. As attacks in cyberspace rise, many nations are trying to reduce dependence on software developed by overseas companies, which may have weaknesses or backdoors. For example, in 2021, the US administration launched the “Secure Open Source Software” project, with the goal of strengthening the security of important open source projects used at governmental level. The European Union is also investing in free software audit and funding programs through the FOSSA project (Free and Open Source Software Audit).

The future of open source in public administrations

The open source era is already a fact and not a threat, altering the ICT sector and increasingly having a solid impact on governments worldwide. The ability to tailor, master and share software is transforming the public administrations’ relationship with technology, making it cheaper, more secure and more transparent. As it stands, there will be even more governments that are embracing open source as a foundation of their digital policy, accelerating innovation and advancing greater technological sovereignty. Now that technology has such a crucial role to play in geopolitics, open source may be the passport to a safer, more open, and democratic future online.