UK told its Big Tech habit is now a national security risk

A public sector hooked on foreign cloud

Britain has spent years wiring its public services into the infrastructure of a handful of US tech giants, and Open Rights Group says that habit has become a national security problem. In a new report called "Tech Giants and Giant Slayers," ORG argues a small group of American megacorps now control large swathes of critical systems, shape policy through lobbying, and lock government into costly, hard-to-exit contracts. The feeling is one of growing exposure: money leaking out of the public purse, and control slipping overseas.

When policy and sanction power collide

The report flags a stark scenario: what happens if politics and tech collide. It has been reported that, after US sanctions tied to the International Criminal Court, Microsoft cut off certain email and banking-related services for affected people — a moment ORG says illustrates how "tech powers of sanction" can suddenly sever access. The Competition and Markets Authority reckons the UK overspends at least £500 million a year on cloud services, and legal regimes like the US CLOUD Act or China’s intelligence law mean the UK’s control over data and systems isn’t purely a domestic matter. Lobbying is part of the story too: ORG alleges Big Tech has pushed to weaken AI rules, data protection and competition law to keep its grip.

Fixes: sovereignty, open source, and a rethink on procurement

Politicians from across the spectrum have signalled concern, and ORG wants a push for digital sovereignty — more public money on public code, stronger domestic capability, and a move away from vendor lock-in. The report singles out recent contracts with firms such as Palantir as evidence the problem is being reinforced, not fixed. It’s a familiar prescription, sure, but the emotional core is clear: when the lights are plugged into someone else’s socket, you’re not fully in control. Can Britain untangle itself before the next shock? That’s the urgent question policymakers now have to answer.

Sources: The Register