Cloud-on-prem vs Big Tech
An uncomfortable truth: Every byte uploaded to AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud isn’t just data—it’s cloud capital. Coined by economist Yanis Varoufakis, the term captures how tech giants transform your digital activity into privatised infrastructure. It’s not merely about hosting files; it’s about hoarding power. And right now, the United States holds the keys, turning Europe into a lodger in its digital manor. But there is an alternative: cloud-on-prem—a return to digital self-sufficiency—and European providers like Hetzner, who offer control, compliance, and a way to starve the beast. Think of it less as going backwards and more as refusing to pay rent to your colonial landlord. ...