French local authorities will replace WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams with an open-source, Matrix-based encrypted messaging service as part of a broader push for digital sovereignty and to keep government data on French infrastructure.

Adullact and partners advocate a phased transition, emphasizing early adopters and internal champions to drive adoption across local authorities rather than a rapid, all-at-once switch.

A €100,000 funding package from Adullact and Sitiv supports developing Element’s federation features, including a federated directory and invitations for non-government workers into private chats, with integration with Tchap planned.

Pilot gaps identified include authenticating user identities, setting security levels for shared information, and connecting staff across neighboring authorities via a federated directory, now being addressed by linking to France’s ProConnect digital identity service.

Tchap remains the central government counterpart with hundreds of thousands of active monthly users and mandatory usage since last year, ensuring government data stays on French infrastructure.

The push toward open source intensified after 2025 sanctions on U.S. cloud services affecting ICC officials, underscoring perceived political risks of reliance on U.S. providers.

Although initial costs may rise, Matrix is anticipated to deliver long-term savings by avoiding escalating licenses from major vendors, with potential future video capabilities to compete with Teams.

Experts note a trend toward digital sovereignty in Europe and growing openness to adoption in the UK and beyond, while stressing careful change management and training to avoid ‘big bang’ migrations.

The Matrix Federation pilot started with four authorities and will scale to about 10,000 local government organizations nationwide from January 2027, using the same Matrix standard as Tchap to secure central-government communications.

The initiative aims to reduce dependence on U.S. tech providers by keeping data on French infrastructure and enabling easier supplier switching without vendor lock-in.