Denmark will stick with Windows — government still plans to ditch Microsoft Office

It seems that earlier reports suggesting the Denmark Ministry of Digital Affairs would completely move away from both Windows and Microsoft Office to adopt Linux and LibreOffice were slightly inaccurate. Instead, the ministry is now planning to abandon Microsoft Office but intends to keep using Windows.

According to reports from Politiken, which originally covered the story, they have made some changes based on observations by PC Gamer. Over the next few months, the Danish Ministry of Digital Affairs plans to transition from using Microsoft Office to LibreOffice.

The action is being taken with the aim of upholding digital autonomy. As stated by Caroline Stage Olsen, Denmark’s Minister for Digital Matters, this is the case.

We shouldn’t shun global tech companies entirely, as they offer valuable solutions we utilize today and in the future. However, relying too heavily on a select few could limit our autonomy. Unfortunately, a significant portion of our public digital infrastructure is controlled by only a handful of foreign providers, which leaves us exposed.

The quote you see was translated using Edge’s built-in tool, so it might not be an exact representation of Olsen’s LinkedIn post.

As a researcher, I find the shift towards LibreOffice by the ministry significant, yet not on par with the magnitude of abandoning Windows. Although this transition involves technical aspects, it pales in comparison to the scale of migrating to a different operating system.

Previously, other administrations and entities experimented with open-source software, often driven by fiscal considerations. However, Denmark’s decision to abandon Microsoft Office is primarily motivated by concerns over digital autonomy.

Microsoft has broadened the scope of its Sovereign Cloud service. They’ve unveiled a collection of tools geared towards data sovereignty. These tools empower businesses with more authority over their data.

The service guarantees that all European data stays within the European continent, with handling restricted exclusively to Microsoft staff stationed in Europe.

In their declaration about sovereignty-centered solutions, Microsoft didn’t specifically name Denmark or any particular government. However, this announcement followed closely on the heels of news reports suggesting that Denmark’s Ministry of Digital Affairs was considering a move away from Windows and Office.

With growing emphasis on data sovereignty, it’s essential for Microsoft to expand its offerings to meet the rising demand.

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2025-06-23 14:39