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France's Minitel: A Lesson in Tech Sovereignty

2/27/2026

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Story summary
  • The Minitel demonstrated France's commitment to tech sovereignty.
  • In the late 1980s, 20% of French homes had Minitel terminals.
  • France Télécom's centralized control limited Minitel's scalability.
  • The EU must reclaim control over technology to prioritize democratic values and balance government intervention with market dynamics against competition from the United States and China.