For a while now, I’ve been actively working to reduce my dependence on large tech companies like Google, Facebook, OpenAI etc. Not just for privacy reasons, but because I prefer to keep my data and services in my own hands — and where possible, choose European alternatives, cooperatives, and mission-driven organizations.
I think it important that we as Europeans become more independent of the US and other super powers so we can determine our own course.
Since I started working already 20 years ago I have once had an Apple Macbook (which are really nice), but I was already long time ago more attracted to the open source Linux operating system and have been using Ubuntu, for 15 years now on a Lenovo laptop. In the beginning there were still some hickups, but nowadays installing Linux is very easy.
At home, I am planning to run a Raspberry Pi 5 with OpenCloud for calendars and files, Vaultwarden for passwords, and backups to a Hetzner Storage Box.
My email already runs through TransIP with Thunderbird as my email client. On my phone I use Ecosia, on my laptop Firefox. I’m also keeping an eye on the EU Digital Identity initiative as an alternative to logging in with Google or Apple accounts.
It’s a process of experimenting, configuring, and sometimes making compromises. But the control and the feeling that my data is truly mine makes it worthwhile.
On this page, I plan to share my experiences, choices, and the lessons I learn along the way.