Majority of Germans Support Government Restrictions on Foreign Acquisitions to Protect Digital Sovereignty

A recent survey by Bitkom reveals strong public demand in Germany for government intervention in foreign acquisitions of key companies, underscoring heightened concerns over national digital sovereignty and technology security. According to the survey of 1,156 respondents, 79% of Germans want the government to prevent acquisitions of leading companies by non-EU investors. This concern is particularly intense toward investors from Russia and China, with 84% and 74% respectively advocating for restrictions. Other countries viewed with caution include Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE (59%) and India (42%). In contrast, only 33% express concerns about investments from the US, and just 19% are wary of Japanese investors.

Dr. Ralf Wintergerst, President of Bitkom, stressed the importance of maintaining sovereignty over key technologies to ensure Germany's independence and resilience amid geopolitical tensions. He emphasized that while Germany should remain open to investments, risk assessments must carefully address security, technological self-determination, and value chain vulnerabilities.

This call for enhanced scrutiny on foreign investment occurs alongside a rising trend in foreign direct investment in Germany. Projections indicate foreign investments will surge from €43 billion in 2024 to €96 billion in 2025, surpassing German investments abroad, which are estimated at €86 billion. Factors driving this investment uptick include Germany’s political stability and predictability amid global trade uncertainties, such as rising US tariffs that pose challenges especially to sectors like automotive.

Despite these pressures, key companies are proceeding with significant investments in Germany. Siemens is investing €500 million in a new Technology Campus in Erlangen, Siemens Energy expands its transformer plant in Nürnberg with €220 million, and Google plans to invest €5.5 billion across multiple data centers through 2029, securing thousands of jobs. These investments reflect confidence in Germany’s role as a technological leader while highlighting the need to balance openness with protective regulatory measures.

Overall, the combination of public opinion data and investment trends signals a nuanced approach where Germany aims to safeguard its digital economy and technological sovereignty without closing the door to beneficial foreign capital.