A new survey published today by UK cloud computing firm Civo has revealed that over 60% of UK IT leaders believe the government should stop purchasing cloud services from US providers in the wake of recent US tariffs and data sovereignty concerns. The study, which gathered insights from more than 1,000 UK-based IT decision-makers, highlights […]
A new survey published today by UK cloud computing firm Civo has revealed that over 60% of UK IT leaders believe the government should stop purchasing cloud services from US providers in the wake of recent US tariffs and data sovereignty concerns.
The study, which gathered insights from more than 1,000 UK-based IT decision-makers, highlights a growing sense of urgency around data sovereignty and digital independence.
According to the findings, 61% of respondents now consider data sovereignty a strategic priority, while 45% say their organisations are actively exploring cloud repatriation—bringing data and workloads back from overseas-based providers.
The growing emphasis on sovereignty has also extended into artificial intelligence. Two-thirds of those surveyed said they would only use AI services where they had absolute certainty over ownership of all data inputs and outputs—something many believe is not guaranteed by current US platforms.
Only 37% expressed trust in Big Tech AI providers to handle their data responsibly.
Civo CEO Mark Boost said the data reflected a dramatic shift in strategic focus across the UK tech landscape. “The market is crying out for greater visibility over where data is stored, used, and transferred, and at present, US providers are failing to meet that demand,” he said.
Boost warned that legislation such as the US CLOUD Act (Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act) leaves UK institutions vulnerable, as American cloud providers may be compelled to hand over data to US authorities regardless of where it is stored.
“When it comes to government data, anything less than full sovereignty represents a significant risk,” he added.
For their part both Google and Microsoft have outlined some commitments to UK and European data sovereignty.
Earlier this month Microsoft Chair Brad Smith said the company would boost its regional computing capacity by 40%, expanding operations in 16 European countries. The move is aimed at helping companies in Europe “navigate the uncertain geopolitical and trade environment,” Smith said, as enterprises in the UK and Europe look for ways to manage risks.
Meanwhile last autumn Google announced that UK organisations can perform machine learning processing for its Gemini 1.5 Flash model entirely within the UK, ensuring data remains within national borders to meet data sovereignty requirements.
