Migrating Services to Europe: My Journey from Non-EU Providers

For various reasons, I have decided to move as many services and subscriptions as possible from non-European Union (EU) countries to within or switch them to European service providers. The primary motivations for this decision are rooted in both current global political climates and enhanced data protection laws that the EU offers.

The Case of Fastmail

Fastmail has been a stalwart provider of email services, serving me well over many years without any hitches. I paid 10 euros per month for two accounts, allowing access to an unlimited number of my own domains and the flexibility to set up catch-all addresses or send emails from virtually any address. This setup was crucial given its importance in managing family communications.

However, finding a European alternative that matched these features proved challenging. After exploring options like mailbox.org, I settled on Uberspace due to its “pay what you want” model and fair pricing for shell accounts, web hosting, email hosting, among other services. The ability to use multiple domains for both web and email hosting was particularly appealing.

While Uberspace does not offer a built-in calendar solution, I found that using Thunderbird on my Android device worked satisfactorily as an alternative.

Data Protection in the EU

The shift to European service providers is driven by improved data protection laws. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other EU regulations provide a robust framework for handling user information, which aligns with my personal values of privacy and security. This move ensures that any sensitive data I share or store remains under the stringent oversight provided by these regulations.

Moreover, European providers often have a more localized approach to customer support, making it easier to navigate issues when they arise. The cultural emphasis on transparency also adds an extra layer of trust in how my personal information is managed and used.

The Future of My Digital Life

This interim report serves as both documentation of the process I’ve undertaken so far and a potential roadmap for others considering similar moves. While it’s not exhaustive, it highlights key considerations such as cost-effectiveness, feature parity, and data protection standards.

I plan to expand on this journey if more services are migrated in the future, providing updates and insights into any challenges or successes encountered along the way. The goal is simple: maintain high-quality service while ensuring that my digital footprint aligns with modern privacy expectations set by EU regulations.