Digital Sovereignty

Digital Sovereignty for me is choosing tools and platforms from partners that I can trust and look up to.

I started using

  • LibreOffice from The Document Foundation
  • Business Email with Strato
  • Email Client from Thunderbird
  • Browser from Firefox
  • Operating System from Ubuntu Pro
  • Cloud storage with Strato
  • Notetaking from Joplin
  • GenAI chatbot from Mistral
  • Video hosting with MakerTube
  • Search with Mojeek
  • Code hosting with Codeberg

so that I practice Digital Sovereignty before I preach it.

I have migrated from Microsoft 365(Office, Outlook, Edge, OneNote, OneDrive and Teams) and Windows 11 so, I understand the pain and gain when one takes the move to Digital Sovereignty.

I can now help my customers (freelancers and small businesses) make that move with confidence step by step understanding the IT planning and Financial budgeting required.

Interesting links:

Moss and Lichens uses

Strato Business Email and HiDrive

Strato Business Email is a German-hosted email service that prioritizes data protection and compliance with EU regulations. It offers features like custom domains, spam filters, and encrypted storage, making it a trusted choice for businesses seeking sovereignty over their communication tools.

Strato HiDrive is a German-hosted cloud storage service that prioritizes data protection and compliance with EU regulations. It offers features like end-to-end encryption, GDPR alignment, and German data centers, making it a trusted choice for businesses and individuals seeking sovereignty over their data.

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite that includes tools for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. It supports open document formats, ensuring long-term data accessibility and independence from proprietary software. Many German public institutions and businesses use it to comply with digital sovereignty requirements.

Ubuntu Pro

Ubuntu Pro is a Linux-based operating system offering long-term support, security updates, and compatibility with enterprise software. It reduces dependency on proprietary OS vendors, supports open standards, and is widely used in German government and educational institutions.

Thunderbird

Thunderbird is a free, open-source email client developed by Mozilla, offering features like calendar integration (via add-ons) and strong privacy controls. Unlike Outlook, it doesn’t rely on cloud-based services, making it ideal for users prioritizing data control and security.

Firefox

Firefox is an open-source browser focused on user privacy, with features like enhanced tracking protection and regular transparency reports. It is developed by the non-profit Mozilla Foundation, reducing reliance on commercial tech giants and aligning with Germany’s push for digital autonomy.

Joplin

Joplin is an open-source note-taking app that prioritizes privacy and user control. It offers end-to-end encryption, cross-platform support, and local storage options, making it a trusted choice for individuals seeking sovereignty over their notes and ideas. You can also sync it with Strato HiDrive via WebDAV for seamless, secure access to your notes across devices.

Le Chat from Mistral

Le Chat by Mistral AI is a compelling choice for Digital Sovereignty due to its European origins, ensuring GDPR compliance and reducing reliance on non-EU providers. Its open-source nature and self-hosting capabilities allow users to maintain control over their data, aligning with sovereignty goals and avoiding vendor lock-in. It also offers vibe coding for AI-powered, context-aware code assistance, canvas mode for structured content creation, and image generation/editing for visual tasks.

MakerTube

Makertube, a PeerTube instance, is a strong choice for Digital Sovereignty as it operates on a decentralized, federated network, free from centralized control. Being open-source and self-hostable, it allows full data ownership and aligns with GDPR. It prioritizes privacy with no user tracking or ads, and admins can restrict access to trusted users, matching your preference for private, non-sharable content. Hosted in Europe, it complies with EU data laws and resists censorship through distributed hosting. As a community-driven platform, Makertube offers a sovereign, ad-free alternative for video hosting.

Mojeek

Search from Mojeek

Mojeek is a UK-based, independent search engine that does not track users or personalize results. It offers unique features like its own web index and ad-free search experience.

It is good for Digital Sovereignty because it ensures data remains under local jurisdiction and control, free from external influence, with over 2 billion indexed pages and 100% privacy-focused operations.

Code hosting from Codeberg

Codeberg is a German-based, non-profit code hosting platform that prioritizes privacy and open-source collaboration. It offers unique features like Git repositories, issue tracking, and CI/CD pipelines without tracking or ads.

It is good for Digital Sovereignty because it keeps code and data under European jurisdiction, with over 500,000 users and a commitment to 100% open-source, ad-free, and tracking-free operations.

READY for a chat?