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I'm from Germany and currently rely on macOS and iOS, with all my personal data stored in iCloud. Recent political tensions have made me question what might happen in the event of a military conflict between the US and Europe. Could Apple be forced to shut down its services in Europe? What would happen to my devices, operating systems, and stored data in such a scenario?

Are there steps I can take now to prepare for this possibility? Alternatives like Windows and Android are also American-based, and even Linux has strong ties to the US. What options do I have to ensure access to my devices and data during such an event?

I’d appreciate any advice or strategies for preparing for this kind of situation.

I’m German and deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, using a MacBook and iPhone with all my files and data synced to iCloud. With Trump’s reelection as U.S. president, I worry the country might drift toward a surveillance dictatorship, one that even Apple’s advancements in encryption and privacy couldn’t counter.

So my question is: Is it time to cut ties with U.S. tech companies and finally switch to alternatives like Linux, Nextcloud, and others?

I'd like to concentrate on one social network where I can share my thoughts and blog posts. But I can't really decide which one to choose. There are obvious ones like Xwitter, Instagram, and Mastodon, special ones like Pinterest, Substack, and LinkedIn, but I even consider sites like Reddit, Tumblr, and HN as social media... So my question would be: What’s your favorite social network (and why)? And if you had to choose one: Which would you choose?