[dabedee]

AWS claims their cloud is "sovereign" and "independent" while remaining owned by a US corp subject to US law (including the CLOUD Act). That's not how sovereignty works. EU citizen operators don't change the fact that the underlying technology, patents, and corporate control remain American. Zero details on pricing, available services, or how they'll handle conflicts between US law and their "sovereignty" promises. For something launching next year, that's concerning.

[crazygringo]

> That's not how sovereignty works.

Actually, it is. It will operate as a subsidiary company based in Europe. That means it's 100% subject to European law, not American law. And being staffed by Europeans means they are immune to any US legal threats. I.e. the US can't compel a European employee to reveal data under a subpoena the way it could compel American citizens.

Amazon remains the owner and controls the technology, yes. But as long as things are encrypted correctly and the hardware is in Europe, the data is secure from the US government. Sure Amazon or any cloud provider could build a back door, but that will eventually be discovered whether by hacker or whistleblower and their reputation will be forever ruined and they'll lose all corporate and government business forever. It's not in Amazon's corporate self-interest to allow a back door like that.

[pyrale]

> It will operate as a subsidiary company based in Europe. That means it's 100% subject to European law, not American law.

As a subsidiary company, does Amazon retain operational control over that branch?

If so, it's subject to the CLOUD act, and therefore, not compatible with EU rules.

> Amazon remains the owner and controls the technology, yes.

So, basically, the answer is that the EU subsidiary is not independent. Consider Lavabit's story, the US admin would have no issue asking Amazon to trojanize their tech.

> their reputation will be forever ruined

That happened 20 years ago.

> It's not in Amazon's corporate self-interest to allow a back door like that.

They wouldn't have a say in the matter.

[dabedee]

Being "100% subject to European law" doesn't override the parent company's obligations under US law. At best, it creates a legal conflict where AWS must violate either US or EU law. Which one will the US parent company prioritize if/when faced with enforcement actions?

The only way this would work is if the European operation were truly independent & separately owned, no corporate control from the US. But I don't think that's what AWS is proposing.

[blitzar]

> It will operate as a subsidiary company based in Europe.

Already was - I pay Amazon Web Services EMEA SARL ("AWS Europe") an entity established in Luxembourg.

> That means it's 100% subject to European law.

Always have been. What is it with tech companies thinking the law doesn't apply to them because muah internet?

> US can't compel a European employee

Courts compel companies not employees, companies get fined and CEOs go to jail for failure to comply.

[dns_snek]

> Sure Amazon or any cloud provider could build a back door, but that will eventually be discovered whether by hacker or whistleblower and their reputation will be forever ruined and they'll lose all corporate and government business forever. It's not in Amazon's corporate self-interest to allow a back door like that.

In which alternate reality is that? This already happened with Snowden's leaks when we learned about Microsoft's, Apple's, and Google's participation in the PRISM program and their market dominance has only grown since then. There were no consequences, the market didn't care, the shareholders didn't care, their customers largely didn't care, and they didn't lose any sleep over it.

[benterix]

> their reputation will be forever ruined and they'll lose all corporate and government business forever

Unfortunately this is not how it works. A cynic in me would say just the opposite, looking how Crowdstrike is doing now after causing one of the biggest technological disasters of the decade by their incompetence.

[mdavid626]

So no backdoors, right? Pinky swear?

[ljm]

So Amazon becomes a supranational entity.

You should be ashamed of yourself for shilling for this shit. Curtis Yarvin would be proud.

[wkat4242]

Yeah this is just window dressing. The NSA will still get their feeds whenever they want.

That said, being fully European doesn't guarantee anything either. They'll just bribe some employees or use an allied intelligence agency within the EU.