France signs up to the Matrix.org Foundation

"Decentralized communications network Matrix is hoping to be the beneficiary as European public and private sector organizations ponder alternatives to the messaging status quo. During Matrix's recent Strasbourg conference, more than two dozen public sector entities were noted to have tried (or were currently using) the technology. The vast majority were European, highlighting worries on the continent about dependency on closed and potentially insecure messaging platforms."

"The French state is already running Matrix as the backbone of its secure instant messaging service. Tchap is used by more than 600,000 public officials, and the country's Interministerial Digital Directorate (DINUM) announced at the conference it was signing up as a Silver member of the Matrix.org Foundation, which requires a fee, becoming the first country to do so. That's well timed."

"The Register has noted quiet grumbling that certain organizations are using the open source code - as they are perfectly entitled to do - without contributing. Such is the joy of the open source world. France isn't alone. Germany has championed the technology in healthcare and other public sector departments, and more countries scrutinizing Matrix include Sweden, which is considering rolling out its own secure messaging service."

Matrix is gaining traction among European public and private sector organizations seeking open, sovereign alternatives to closed messaging platforms. More than two dozen public sector entities have tried or are using Matrix following a Strasbourg conference, reflecting concerns about dependency on closed and potentially insecure services. France operates Matrix as the backbone for its secure instant messaging service Tchap, used by over 600,000 public officials, and DINUM became a Silver member of the Matrix.org Foundation. Germany has implemented Matrix in healthcare and other departments, and Sweden is considering a national rollout. The protocol is 11 years old but remains relatively niche, and geopolitical tensions have accelerated interest, though widespread private-sector adoption will take time due to long sales cycles.

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