STOCKHOLM, Feb 13 (GeokHub) — Microsoft and Ericsson are spearheading a new global initiative aimed at strengthening digital trust as governments intensify focus on data sovereignty and technology independence.
The newly formed “Trusted Tech Alliance” brings together 15 multinational companies to promote responsible technology development and cross-border cooperation at a time when geopolitical tensions are reshaping the global digital landscape.
A Response to Growing Digital Borders
The alliance marks one of the first coordinated industry efforts to address rising concerns over where data is stored and how digital infrastructure is governed. Governments in Europe and Asia have increasingly debated regulations and investment strategies to reduce reliance on foreign technology providers.
Microsoft President Brad Smith said the initiative is designed to establish a shared definition of trust in an era when countries are reconsidering digital dependencies and strengthening technology borders.
Ericsson CEO Börje Ekholm emphasized that complete digital sovereignty is unrealistic for any single nation, warning that the term can risk becoming a trade barrier rather than a solution.
Five Core Principles
The Trusted Tech Alliance is built around five guiding pillars:
- Strong corporate governance
- Ethical business conduct
- Secure technology development
- Compliance with global security standards across supply chains
- Support for an open and interoperable digital environment
Member companies will self-certify adherence to the principles, with mechanisms for independent assessment included in the framework.
Broad Industry Participation
Beyond Microsoft and Ericsson, the alliance includes major players across cloud computing, AI, connectivity, and enterprise software, including:
- Anthropic
- Amazon Web Services
- Reliance Jio Platforms
- Nokia
- Cohere
- NTT
- SAP
These companies collectively operate across semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and global connectivity networks.
Counterweight to Fragmentation
The launch comes amid a broader shift toward economic nationalism and technology protectionism, particularly as policymakers seek to safeguard sensitive data and critical infrastructure.
Alliance leaders say success will be measured by whether the initiative can provide a counterbalance to growing technological fragmentation and help maintain global interoperability.
With AI, cloud services, and semiconductor supply chains increasingly central to economic competitiveness, the Trusted Tech Alliance signals industry recognition that cooperation may be as important as competition in shaping the digital future.
