Open letter to the Executive University Board: Calling for an end to the university's dependence on big tech

We, the undersigned, express our concern about the University of Groningen’s increasing reliance on services from big tech companies (particularly Google, Microsoft, and Amazon) for our research, teaching and administrative activities. Several years ago, the Rectors of the Dutch universities collectively and wisely warned about this. Since then, little has happened; worse, almost all Dutch universities migrated to big tech cloud services, at the expense of our internally operated computer centers.

The University of Groningen is currently largely dependent on Google and Microsoft for all our office work: emailing, writing documents, creating presentations, making video calls, sharing documents and storing our data. Other significant dependencies exist for several key systems at our university. This creates multiple vulnerabilities, especially in the light of a rapidly changing geopolitical situation.

First of all, there are significant security and privacy risks. Access to adopted services relies on authentication services that depend on transatlantic connections and that may be cut at the whims of the American government. In such a situation, all research and teaching would come to an immediate halt. We are also losing control over our data. Google, Microsoft and other companies, on whose services we rely, can be required by law to share our communications, documents, and sensitive (personal) data with US agencies. The fact that the data is stored on European servers offers no (legal) protection (because of the U.S. CLOUD Act) and any protections that would be offered can be circumvented by US authorities without transparency.

Apart from these immediate security and privacy concerns, our reliance on Big Tech is fundamentally at odds with public values like academic freedom, independence, autonomy and equality— as pointed out already in 2019 by the Rectors. The digital services we use for our research and teaching are profoundly shaping our professional practices; the incorporation of the newest AI-tools in basic software (e.g. integration of large-language models into text editing applications such as Google Docs or MS Word) substantially shape our teaching and research and hence impact our professional autonomy.

Replacement of academic ICT infrastructure with software services from big (american) tech companies has also changed what universities can offer to their community as well as to society in general. This is because universities increasingly favor corporate ICT and management environments over in-house or open source solutions that were specifically developed for universities. In the process, they loose the capacity and flexibility to manage services beyond what is offered by the dominant companies. This inadvertently creates a preferential environment for the biggest players.

These developments transform universities from being a source of innovation and knowledge distribution to consumers of services. Or worse, by moving more research practices and associated innovation into the cloud, big tech companies end up determining the conditions for research, nudging research agendas and outcomes towards implementations in their environments. This means that publicly funded research, intended for the benefit of all, can sometimes serve to entrench the dominance of these few companies into the future.

With this open letter we call upon you to change course:
 
 1) Reduce the heavy reliance of the university on services from big tech companies.
 2) Contribute to greater technological self-determination, resilience and public innovation.
 3) Collaborate actively with universities in the Netherlands and across Europe.

We understand that these developments happened slowly over the years and our university cannot switch to its own IT-infrastructure or rebuild its ICT departments immediately. We therefore ask you to define a point on the horizon and collaboratively define a strategy/roadmap. We ask you to make our university’s explicit policy goal to move universities away from being dependent of big tech services in three years time. Universities, in collaboration with each other and with SURF, need to work towards technical infrastructures and practices that restore the autonomy of the academic community in charting democratic and equitable digital futures.  

Alternatives to big tech offerings — based on non-profit motives, public values and transparency — do exist and are essential for universities to transform digitally. Importantly, the less we use these alternatives, the more our reliance on big tech becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Below we list several things which can be done immediately:
  

• Locally: reverse the ongoing transition to big tech and invest in local expertise and deployment, for instance by running our own mail server, initiating Nextcloud initiatives, etc.

• Nationally: use your influence within SURF to make data autonomy a national priority for the (higher) education sector. Help turn universities into an engine of innovation for transformative and equitable digital futures.

• Internationally: work with other European universities (notably in Germany and France, partners that share our values) for an autonomous academic IT infrastructure that can be a source of innovation and resilience globally.
   
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The names mentioned below are from all signatories who provided their information on a voluntary basis. The names will stay online for 90 days after the petition closed and then be removed. 

The overall number of declarations of support for this petition (including anonymous ones) was more than 500 when it closed on 16 April 2025 at 23:59. For more information regarding the petition please contact o.j.gstrein rug.nl. 

This petition has been opened in collaboration with the initiative at Utrecht University (coordinated by prof. dr. José van Dijck and prof. dr. Albert Meijer), and the initiatives at other universities in the Netherlands.

Sincerely,
 (in alphabetical order)
 
 dr. Malcolm Campbell-Verduyn (Co-Editor of the Yearbook on Data Autonomy)
 
 dr. Oskar Gstrein (Data Autonomy Theme coordinator Jantina Tammes school, Co-Editor of the Yearbook on Data Autonomy)

prof. mr. dr. Aline Klingenberg (Hoogleraar Onderwijsinnovatie, datadelen en communicatierecht)

Young Academy Groningen
 
Assoc Prof. dr. Lukas Linsi (Associate Porfessor, Faculty of Arts)

prof. dr. Jeanne Mifsud Bonnici (Professor in European Technology Law and Human Rights)
 
 Taichi Ochi (representing Open Science Community Groningen)
 
 dr. Titus Stahl (Associate Professor, Faculty of Philosophy)
 
 prof. dr. Ronald Stolk (Senior Policy Advisor)
 
 prof. dr. Niels Taatgen (Director Bernoulli Research Institute)

Public list of signatories

A. Brandt

A. J. Minnaard

A. Streppel

Adi Stoykova

Alex H. de Vries

Dr. Alexander Belyy

Alexandra Matei

Alfred Boonstra

Amaranta Luna Arteaga

Ana Alves

Ana DH

AndiM

Andra Mladen

Andrea Horta Herranz

Dr. Andreas Milias-Argeitis (Associate Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering)

Andreas van Cranenburgh

prof. dr. Andrej Zwitter

Andries Jensma

Andy-Mark Thunnissen

Ane van der Leij

Angelos Konstantinidis

Angxiao Xu

Anja Robbeson

Anke Coumans

Anna Mikhaylovskaya

Annamaria Neag

Anne Floor Lanting

Annet Kranenborg

Anouk Volker

Dr. Antonija Grubisic-Cabo

Arina Holwerda

Arjan

Arjan Kortholt

Arjen Kamp

Ark Deliev

Arman Eslambolchi

Arnau Domenech

Dr Audrey Fino

Aurel Istrate

Aurelia Colombi Ciacchi

B Steenman

Babette Knauer

Balázs Markos

Barbara Brink

Bart Beijer

Bart Brouwers

Belle Willemstein

Bengt

Berend

Bert Poolman

BJ Valk

Björn de Kruijf

Bram Burgerhof

dr. Brian Setz

C Raad

C. Jedan

Carel Hartsuiker

Carola Veenstra

Caroline Dijkema

Caroline Roth

Catalin Mihit

Dr. Catherine Jasserand

dr Ceciel Nieuwenhout

Cecilia Rikap, Associated Professor in Economics and Head of Research, University College London's Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose

Charlotte Vlek

Christian Bleischwitz

Christien Boomsma

Dr. Christophe Lachance-Brais

Christopher Chambers

Coen Postema

Dr Conny Steenman Marcusse

Cristina Pinna

D. Antoons

D. van Hoorn

drs. D.G. van der Laan

Dali Fekete

Dan Leberg

Daniel Cowen

Daniel Leix Palumbo

Daphne Brandenburg, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Philosophy

David Cheruiyot

David van der Linden

Davide Grossi, Bernoulli Institute

Debbie

Dick Jager

Djairo Hougee

Djurre Fijen

Douwe Haringa

E. Aguirre Mercado

E.R. ten Brink-Doornbos

Edemilson Paraná, International Fellow, Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development, RUG

Edita Jurak

Edwin Woerdman

Elena Cavagnaro

Ellen van der Werff

Els Maeckelberghe

Engelien Reitsma

Eric Rietzschel

Erik J. Bunskoeke

Erik Koning

Esteban Morales

Esther Metting

Eva van der Woude

mr. dr. Evert Neppelenbroek (Assistant Professor IT-law)

Evgeni Moyakine (Associate Professor, Faculty of Law)

Federico Pianzola

Femke Kramer

Ferry Helweg

Flip Kramer

dr. Fokke Dijkstra

Franco Ruzzenenti

Frank Harbers

Friso Timmenga

Frits

mr. ir. G.C. (Guido) Visman

G.F.Y. Bonnet

Geert-Jan Meewisse, eerlijkdigitaalonderwijs.nl

Ger Strikwerda

Gerald Jonker

Gerard Ritsema van Eck

Gerd Weitkamp

Germain Abdul - Rahman

Gina

Gisel Barbieri (PhD student, Faculty of Philosophy/ YAG)

Gosse Bouma

Graeme Blake

Gésina Wubs

H. de Boer

Prof. dr. H.E. (Herman) Bröring

Han Thomas Adriaenssen

Hanna Tolsma

Hannah Louise Mulvihill

Hans Risselada

Hans Vedder, professor of economic law

Harald Veldman

Harold Groenewold

Harrie ten Have

Hedderik van Rijn

Hedwig Sekeres

Heinrich Winter

Hendrik Erenstein

Henrike Padmos

Dr. Hilbrand Oldenhuis

Hugh McDonnell

I. Sfrijan

Ida Varošanec

mr. Ina Middelkamp

ing. J.L. Aikema

drs. ing. L.F.A. (Leon) Wetzel

Inga Luchs

Ingrid Bennigsen

Irene Mommers

Isidora Kraguljac

Iwan Merkelijn

J. Reinders

J.S. Blijleven

prof. dr. JA Beaulieu

Jan Albert van Laar

Jan Folkert Deinum

Jan-Willem Oordt

Jan-Willem Romeijn

Jane Mahoney

Janet Fuller

Janina Wildfeuer

Janka

Jeanette den Toonder

Prof. Dr. Jelmer Borst

dr. Jelte Nimoth

Jeroen van Engen

Jesse David Marinus

Dr. Jesús Rodríguez Viejo

Jie Ouyang

Jisk Knijpstra

Prof. dr. Joe Cannataci

Johan Bos

Joke Bakker

Jolien Steenman

Jonathan Spellerberg

Jonida Milaj-Weishaar

Joop Steenman

Jorrit Praamstra

Jorrit Westerhof

Joshua Schäuble

Josse 't Sas

Joyce de Haan

João C. Magalhães

Joëlle Swart

Julian Hanich

Justin Lindeboom

Karabo Mokoena

Karien Galli

Kars Jansen

Katerina Tsampi

Kees Aarts

Kharies

Kiki Santing

Klara Matusewicz

Klaus Hubacek

Koen van den Haak

Konstantijn Rondhuis

Kristian J. Pars MSc

Kun He

Kyriakos Hjikakou

drs. L. Bolhuis

Lars Andringa

Laurens Hemminga

Laurens Voerman

Laurent Krook

Leo Vincent

Leonieke Bolderman

Liesbet Heyse

Lisa Herzog

Loes Bouman

Loes Schaafsma

Lucas Van Milders

Lukas Wolf

Luke Crofton Arbuthnot

M.A.R. Goudberg

Prof. Dr. Ir. Maarten Gijsenberg

Maarten Meijer

Dr Maeve McKeown

Prof. dr. Manuela Vecchi

prof. dr. Marcello Seri

Margriet Hidding

Marguerite Klein

Maria Antonietta Loi

Maria Magas

Marian Counihan

prof dr Marianne Franklin

Marieke De Smet

Marije aan het Rot

Marije Michel, Faculty of

Marije Miedema

Marijke Folgering

Marika Di Berto Mancini

Marina Markellou

Marjolein Nieboer MA

Mark Kas

Marleen Schippers

Marrit Faber

Marten Reijntjes

Massih Zekavat

Mr. Dr. Mathieu Paapst

Matt Coler

Matthias Heinemann

Matthijs van Wolferen

Max Roeleveld

Menno Rol

Michael Eigner

Michael Schwan

Michiel Hooiveld

Michiel van der Ree

Mirjam Frey

Mirjam Plantinga

Mona Nymphius

Mordechai Kot

dr. Muirne Paap

Myroslav Kavatsyuk

N.D. Tipping-Griffioen

Nadine Voelkner

Naomi De Ruiter

Nasser Kalantar

Natalia Lisowska

Nazanin Zadeh-Cummings

Niels Idsinga

Niels Manning

Niki Gervais

Nikolay Boainov Bonev

Nina Mileva

Nynke

O.Kavatsyuk

Ole Gmelin

Onne van der Velde

Oskar Gstrein

Owen S

Prof. Panos Merkouris

Patrick Koerts

ir. Paul Chambroux

Pedro Santos Neves

Pepijn Tukker

Personnel Faction of the University Council

Peter Fodran

Dr. Peter van de Waerdt

Pieter de Wilde, Professor in European Politics and Society, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Pim Geelhoed

Piotr Popek

Puck de Boer

Qian Huang

R Steinkrauss

Rafael Wittek

Ramón Ortega

Ranjita Bose

Rashid Gabdulhakov

Remco Kouwenhoven

Remco Wouts

Rik Smit

Rink Hoekstra

Ritumbra Manuvie

Rob Hornstra

Rob Nijenkamp

Robert Pollice

Prof. dr. Roland van der Veen

Ronny

Rosa Kremer

Ryan Wittingslow, Associate Professor

S. de Gunst

Sabrina Sauer

Sake Jager

Sam Alma

Sanne Moorman, FSE

Sara Nabhani

dr Saskia Blom

Sebastian Lequime

Sepideh Yousefzadeh

Serte Donderwinkel

Siebrant Hendriks

Sietse van der Post

Sijbren Otto

Silvia Donker

Simon Busman

Prof. Simon Verhulst

Sjoerd Kroon

Sjoerd-Jeroen Moenandar

Skye Totton

Solveig Castelli

Sophia Salziger

Soverin

Steffen Müller

Stella Banis

Steven Hoekstra

Steven woudstra

Sytze Brandenburg

Taís Fernanda Blauth

Teodor Zaharia

Teresa Bertogna

Thomas

Thomas

Thomas Jansen

Tim van Zuijlen

Timo Pot

Tjesse Riemersma

Tommaso Caselli

Treviliana Putri

Tsegaye Misikir Tashu

Valerija Golubic

Victor Toma

Victoria Poļaka

Wesley Browne

William Latham

Wim Nap

Wouter Rusman

WouterG

Wytze Koopal

Yaroslava Lopatina

Yevgen Matusevych

Yori Ong

Yugyun Kim

Yuxiang Gao

Yvonne

Yvonne van Kollenburg

Zhong Hui

Zulima Martí Cuñat

Zuzanna Kubicka

Çiğdem Bozdağ