The complete article for people caught by the paywall:

Let's start with the good news.

Whether you’re reading this on our website or through our app, you’re using technology that we built and manage ourselves. It operates entirely on European servers.

The same is true for some of the tools we rely on to monitor and measure our results, such as Matomo and Metabase.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg; beneath it lies a deep foundation of U.S. technology.

That was once a deliberate decision.

For example, Google Workspace offers an Advanced Protection Programme that combines robust security with ease of use – which made it a rational choice for our newsroom.

Our newsletters (ActiveCampaign), internal communication (Slack), password manager (1Password) and customer support (Intercom) are also owned by U.S. companies or use U.S. servers.

And that’s precisely where the problem lies.

Washington can force U.S. tech companies to share data – even if it’s stored in Europe.

For a newsroom like ours, that possibility undermines our core journalistic principles: protecting sources, maintaining confidentiality, and preserving independence.

In light of recent political developments across the Atlantic, one thing is clear: using U.S. technology leaves us vulnerable.

And unfortunately, this is no longer a remote risk.

Follow our journey For that reason, we’ve decided to phase out U.S. tech and turn to European alternatives.

Yet we know it won’t be easy.

Switching to other software and services will be expensive, require time, and bring its share of frustrations.

At the same time, we think it’s an interesting endeavour from a journalistic perspective, especially as many citizens, companies and governments are wrestling with this very issue.

This is why we’re sharing the process publicly and inviting everyone to follow our journey. We also hope you’ll share your own experiences with us.

We’ll document the alternatives we explore, the decisions we make, the time and money they require, the obstacles we encounter, and the mistakes we make along the way.

Here is an overview of the technology we are currently using.

We’re doing this together with our colleagues at De Correspondent, a leading Dutch outlet.

It’s a natural partnership: we share a journalistic mission, rely on similar technology, and operate at a comparable scale.

Collaborating allows us to work more efficiently, avoid duplicating efforts, and potentially find more cost-effective solutions.

You can sign up for our special newsletter to make sure you never miss an update on this project.

FTM Digital Autonomy We’re phasing out U.S. tech and moving to European alternatives

The newsletter will be sent out periodically, and the next edition will likely arrive once we’ve found someone to lead the project for us.

Today, we are taking the first step in the process.

We’re excited to have you with us.

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Authors Jan-Willem Sanders Co-owner and Chief Publishing at Follow the Money, and the members’ ambassador.

Harry Lensink co-editor-in-chief. Loves a thrilling story