Open Rights Group has warned that the UK is becoming too dependent on a small number of major US technology providers, arguing in a new report that the country needs a more deliberate strategy around digital sovereignty and open technologies.
The organisation said years of consolidation among large technology companies have left a handful of providers with significant influence over the UK’s digital infrastructure. In its view, that raises risks around national security, long-term vendor lock-in, and the resilience of the systems on which public and private organisations increasingly depend.
The report also places the UK in a broader European context. Support for digital sovereignty is accelerating across the continent, with sovereign cloud spending in Europe forecast to triple between 2025 and 2027. ORG argued that without more decisive action, the UK risks falling behind countries that are investing more heavily in open and locally governed digital ecosystems.
Stuart Harvey, CEO at Datactics, said: “Building digital sovereignty ultimately starts with data, however the challenge isn’t just dependence on external providers, but rather ensuring the UK retains control over data quality and governance.
“At its core, digital sovereignty ensures that sensitive public data remains subject to national laws and oversight. Building a strong national digital infrastructure means investing in systems that are adaptable and subject to reviews. Getting this right means building open, well-governed systems that support sovereignty and strengthen capabilities to ensure data remains a strategic asset.”
ORG said the answer lies in a combination of stronger regulatory oversight, greater investment in open technologies, and a renewed effort to build domestic digital capability. The release stops short of setting out a detailed implementation timetable, but it frames the issue as a strategic one rather than a narrow procurement concern, with implications for infrastructure control, technology choice, and long-term public sector resilience.
