Deutsche Telekom Wants 'German Cloud’ to Shield Data From US

Deutsche Telekom AG’s T-Systems information technology unit is pushing regulators to introduce a certificate for German or European cloud operators to help companies guard data from the U.S. government.

T-Systems plans to lure customers by emphasizing the security of its servers, over which it delivers its Internet-accessed computing services, said Reinhard Clemens, the division’s chief executive officer. This includes shielding clients from government access such as that allowed by the U.S. Patriot Act, he said. “The Americans say that no matter what happens I'll release the data to the government if I'm forced to do so, from anywhere in the world,’” Clemens said. “Certain German companies don't want others to access their systems. That’s why we’re well-positioned if we can say we’re a European provider in a European legal sphere and no American can get to them.”