UK officials warn that dependence on US platforms such as AWS and Microsoft could expose government data to the CLOUD Act and undermine national security and data sovereignty.

British lawmakers are raising alarms over the UK government’s growing reliance on American cloud giants such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, warning that the arrangement could expose sensitive data to US legal mandates like the CLOUD Act.

Security concerns behind the political pushback

Members of Parliament and senior officials argue that hosting public‑service data on US‑based platforms creates a legal pathway for American authorities to request access, potentially bypassing UK oversight mechanisms.

The CLOUD Act, enacted in 2018, allows US law‑enforcement agencies to compel US‑based tech firms to hand over data stored abroad, a provision that critics say undermines British data sovereignty and national security.

Calls for a home‑grown alternative

Several MPs have urged the government to develop a domestic cloud infrastructure or to diversify suppliers to include European providers, aiming to reduce the strategic dependency on US technology.

“We need to ensure that critical public services are not vulnerable to foreign legal orders,” one lawmaker said in a recent parliamentary debate, emphasizing the need for a resilient, sovereign cloud ecosystem.

Potential impact on public services

If the concerns are not addressed, ministries could face restrictions on data sharing, increased scrutiny from regulators, and possible delays in digital transformation projects that rely on cloud scalability.

  • Limited access to US‑based AI and analytics tools
  • Higher compliance costs for data localisation
  • Risk of service interruptions if legal disputes arise

The government has so far defended its cloud strategy, citing cost efficiencies and the robustness of existing contracts, but it acknowledges the need to review data‑handling safeguards.

“Our priority is to protect citizens’ data while still delivering modern services,” a senior civil servant told parliament, adding that any shift would be carefully managed.

The debate is expected to shape upcoming policy reviews on digital infrastructure, with a possible legislative push to tighten data‑security requirements for cloud contracts.

Business Standard coverage of Britain’s reliance on US cloud giants