We’ve done the research so you don’t have to.
Across tariffs, treaties, tech policy and privacy laws, one pattern keeps emerging:
Relying on U.S. event tech in 2025 isn’t just risky. It’s potentially reckless.
Trade tensions between the U.S. and Europe are flaring again. Tariffs are creeping into digital services. Data transfers are on shaky legal ground. And under the surface, a bigger threat is looming: outsourcing your most critical event infrastructure to a jurisdiction you can’t control.
The German military just dropped Microsoft.
Not because of UX. Because of trust.
So here's the question every European organiser should be asking:
👉 If national governments are stepping away from U.S. tech... why are we still running entire events on it?
🚨 Case in Point: Germany Just Dropped Microsoft
This isn't a hypothetical.
In early 2025, the German armed forces made headlines by officially phasing out Microsoft. The reason? Concerns over data sovereignty, surveillance, and legal risk. They’re switching to a European provider.
If the Bundeswehr doesn’t trust U.S. software with national security – why are we trusting it with our attendee data, ticketing, and virtual platforms?
💸 Rising Costs. ☁️ Legal Risks. 🕵️ Data Exposure.
Let’s break down the real-world risks of relying on U.S.-based event technology in 2025:
1. Tariffs and Trade Wars = Higher Costs
U.S. tariffs are targeting tech. EU retaliation is brewing. Event platforms that rely on American infrastructure are already passing on increased costs. You could be paying more tomorrow for the same ticketing service you used yesterday.
2. GDPR Compliance on Shaky Ground
The EU–US Data Privacy Framework is under legal fire. If it falls (again), your event data stored with U.S. platforms could be instantly non-compliant. That means exposure to audits, fines, and emergency migrations.
3. The CLOUD Act & Surveillance Risk
U.S. law still allows their government to access your data – even if it's stored in Europe. That includes attendee names, emails, payment details, and more. Your promise of data privacy? Not yours to make if your stack is American.
4. Service Interruptions? Not Unlikely
From sanctions to policy pivots, U.S. platforms can (and have) cut service to international users. If a political dispute escalates, your virtual platform, ticketing system, or cloud-hosted agenda could be frozen without notice.
🧠 This Isn’t About Anti-Americanism. It’s About Risk Management.
European organisers aren’t switching because they dislike U.S. software. They’re switching because the cost of staying loyal is now too high – in legal exposure, in data control, and in event-day reliability.
We’ve entered a world where software can be caught in a trade war. Where “data sovereignty” is no longer a buzzword – it’s a survival strategy.
🛡️ Why European Tools Are the Smarter Bet in 2025
Switching to local doesn’t mean settling for less. In fact, European event tech is increasingly competitive – and offers key advantages that U.S. providers can’t.
✅ Fully GDPR-native
No transatlantic data transfers. No shady contracts. Full control over attendee data under EU law.
✅ Stable pricing in EUR or GBP
No exchange-rate roulette. No surprise tariff surcharges. Just consistent costs you can plan for.
✅ Local support, local time zones
When your doors open at 9am in Amsterdam, you don’t want to wait for San Francisco to wake up.
✅ Immune to U.S. policy chaos
European providers aren’t subject to CLOUD Act requests, U.S. sanctions, or international platform shutdowns. They're governed by the same laws you are.
✅ Aligned with Europe’s tech sovereignty movement
Your switch helps grow the European tech ecosystem – and future-proofs your business against external shocks.
🔄 Use This Moment to Reevaluate Your Stack
You don’t need to switch everything overnight. But here’s what you can do today:
- Audit your vendors – Are any critical platforms U.S.-based?
- Start trialling EU alternatives – You might be surprised by the quality and features.
- Adopt a dual-vendor strategy – Keep U.S. platforms for global reach, but have a local fallback.
- Talk to your team – Make data sovereignty a strategic priority, not an afterthought.
🧭 Not Sure Where to Start? Try These European Alternatives
👇 Not sure where to start? Here are some top European providers to explore:
- Ticketing:
Check out Ticket Tailor, Billetto, Tixoom, and Ticketbutler — all offer clear pricing in EUR/GBP, strong privacy practices, and tools designed for indie organisers through to large-scale festivals.
- Event apps & engagement:
Platforms like Swapcard, Eventscase, and Presso deliver solid mobile experiences, networking tools, and flexible virtual formats — all built for European compliance and user experience.
Email & CRM:
For privacy-friendly email and automations, try Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) or MailerLite — both EU-based and designed with GDPR at their core.Payments:
Skip the dollar volatility with Mollie, Adyen, Viva Wallet, or Stripe EU — great for seamless payments and supporting local methods like iDEAL, Bancontact, and Klarna.Registration & attendee management:
Explore Azavista, idloom-events, Eventee — powerful options for on-brand registration, guest management, and hybrid event support.Hosting & infrastructure:
For truly sovereign cloud hosting, look to OVHcloud, IONOS, or Cleura — all with EU data centres and built-in compliance for your tech stack.Safe analytics (GDPR-compliant alternatives to Google Analytics):
Use Fathom Analytics — a simple, privacy-first analytics platform that doesn’t collect personal data, doesn’t use cookies, and keeps all visitor data on EU servers by default. Ideal for event websites, landing pages, and registration flows where trust and compliance matter.
🔁 Bonus: Powering Growth with Referral Tools
Some European platforms now offer built-in referral or ambassador programmes to help you grow your events through your own community. That’s where tools like Cello (a B2B referral platform) come in — helping organisers reward loyal fans, partners, or speakers for spreading the word.
Whether you’re selling tickets or growing a B2B conference audience, referral tools are a low-effort, high-impact way to scale — and let your audience market your events for you.
Because what’s better than a recommendation from someone your audience already trusts? Especially when there’s a reward for making the intro.
🎁 Bonus: Presso also offers free in-app referral tools for both organisers and attendees — making it easy to turn engagement into organic growth.
🏁 Final Thought: Build Resilience Before You Need It
The American tools you’re using may be world-class.
But they’re no longer world-proof.
In 2025, digital trust is a strategic asset. And outsourcing yours to an unpredictable, protectionist, surveillance-happy ecosystem is a risk you don’t have to take.
It’s not about politics.
It’s about protecting your events, your data, and your future.