Merz Says Google Cloud Is Sovereign Enough for Intelligence
At the digital summit in Berlin, Chancellor Merz praised AI's potential and called Google's cloud sufficiently sovereign for German intelligence services.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz considers Google's cloud sufficiently sovereign for use by the country's intelligence services. He made the remark at the digital summit in Berlin, where he also voiced strong enthusiasm for the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence.
The statement effectively gives US cloud providers a broad endorsement. Critics may read it as a blank cheque, since the question of how much state data should sit with non-European companies has long been contested in Germany and across Europe.
Sovereignty under debate
Digital sovereignty is a central theme of the summit. Intelligence services are among the most sensitive users of IT infrastructure, so a positive assessment from the head of government carries particular weight. If the chancellor regards a Google cloud as adequate for such agencies, it signals that ministries and authorities with less demanding security needs could hardly be held to a stricter standard.
At the same time, Merz's remarks show where the government's priorities lie. His emphasis on AI opportunities suggests that access to powerful, scalable computing infrastructure matters more to him than a strict preference for European providers.
What it means
For German and European cloud providers, who have argued for sovereign alternatives, the message is not encouraging. For public-sector buyers, it may serve as political cover to continue relying on US hyperscalers.
What concrete requirements or technical safeguards would apply to such use was not part of the available details. Further clarification from the government on how "sufficiently sovereign" is defined will likely determine how far the statement shapes future procurement decisions.
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