January 30, 2026
France to Replace Microsoft Teams and Zoom With National Video Platform by 2027
France has confirmed plans to replace Microsoft Teams and Zoom across its public administration with a nationally developed video conferencing platform by 2027. The move away from US-based software providers is the country’s effort to regain control over critical digital infrastructure used by government workers.
The French government announced that all ministries and public bodies will gradually transition to Visio, a domestically built video platform already being tested inside the civil service. Around 40,000 officials are currently using the tool, with access expected to expand to several hundred thousand users over the next two years.
According to the government, the decision is driven primarily by security and sovereignty concerns. David Amiel, minister for the civil service and state reform, said France aims to end the use of non-European digital solutions in public communications and rely instead on tools that guarantee confidentiality and operational control. The shift comes amid wider European anxiety over dependence on foreign technology providers and growing fears around surveillance, data access, and service disruption.
Inside France’s Sovereign Video Platform
Visio forms part of France’s broader “Suite Numérique” initiative, which seeks to replace commonly used foreign workplace tools such as Gmail, Slack, and now Teams and Zoom with European or French alternatives. These platforms are reserved for civil servants and are not intended for private sector or consumer use.
From a technical perspective, Visio aims to meet strict public sector security requirements. The platform runs on cloud infrastructure provided by Outscale, a subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes, and is certified under France’s SecNumCloud framework. This certification defines how sensitive government data must be hosted and protected.
Visio also includes artificial intelligence features that mirror some of the capabilities users expect from commercial platforms, such as automated meeting transcription and speaker identification. The government has confirmed that additional AI-based captioning tools are planned for release in 2026.
Cost savings are another factor behind the decision, as officials estimate that ending paid software licenses could save approximately €1 million per year for every 100,000 users.
Reinforcing Data Sovereignty
France’s move aligns with a wider trend across Europe. Governments and public institutions are reassessing their reliance on dominant US cloud and software platforms, particularly after a series of major cloud outages last year raised concerns about resilience. The European Parliament has called for greater control over digital infrastructure and AI systems, while countries such as Germany and Austria are testing open-source or locally developed alternatives. Within France, cities including Lyon have already reduced their use of Microsoft products.
The transition to Visio will take place gradually through 2027, with Teams and Zoom phased out as adoption increases.
