Belangrijke Nederlandse digitale infrastructuur in gevaar door Amerikaanse overname
Den Haag, woensdag, 11 februari 2026.
De overname van Solvinity door het Amerikaanse Kyndryl staat centraal in een dringend debat in de Tweede Kamer. Solvinity beheert cruciale systemen zoals DigiD en MijnOverheid. Kamerleden zijn bezorgd over nationale veiligheid en privacy. Die zorgen nemen toe nu bekend is dat Kyndryl onder vuur ligt van de Amerikaanse beurswaakhond SEC. Het bedrijf kampt met een internationaal onderzoek naar zijn boekhoudpraktijken. Topmedewerkers zijn al vertrokken. De aandelenkoers stortte in. Dit verhoogt de twijfel of een buitenlandse aanbieder met instabiliteit geschikt is om Nederlandse overheidsdata te beheren. Een meerderheid in de Kamer pleit ervoor om DigiD expliciet uit de overname te houden. Ze zien dat als een sterk politiek signaal voor digitale autonomie.
Parliament debates foreign control over critical digital infrastructure
The Dutch House of Representatives debated the proposed takeover of Solvinity by American firm Kyndryl on February 11, 2026 [1]. Solvinity manages essential government services including DigiD and MijnOverheid, raising significant concerns among MPs regarding national security and data privacy [1]. Lawmakers expressed alarm that sensitive personal data could fall under foreign jurisdiction due to the acquisition [2]. The debate focused heavily on whether such critical digital infrastructure should remain under domestic or European control rather than being transferred to a non-EU company [2]. Minister of Economic Affairs Vincent Karremans and State Secretary for Internal Affairs Eddie van Marum attended the session to address parliamentary questions [1].
Growing political opposition to Solvinity sale
A coalition of parties including GroenLinks-PvdA, CDA, SGP, D66, Groep-Markuszower, 50PLUS, BBB, PvdD and Volt opposes the transfer of DigiD-related systems to American ownership [2]. Barbara Kathmann of GroenLinks-PvdA stated firmly: “We simply do not want this in American hands. Full stop” [2]. While acknowledging the government cannot legally block corporate sales, she emphasized the motion serves as a strong political signal demanding Dutch or European custody of these vital digital services [2]. An online petition against the takeover gathered 161,980 signatures, reflecting widespread public unease about data sovereignty [4]. The parliamentary majority insists server operations, storage, and cybersecurity protections for DigiD must stay within national or EU boundaries [2].
Security risks tied to US legal reach and instability
Experts highlight two major threats stemming from Kyndryl’s ownership of Solvinity [2]. First, US authorities might compel access to data stored abroad through legislation allowing extraterritorial demands on American companies [2]. Second, there is fear Washington could disable access during geopolitical tensions, disrupting citizen access to tax, healthcare, and municipal platforms overnight [2]. These vulnerabilities intensify following revelations that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched an investigation into Kyndryl’s accounting practices involving cash management, financial reporting, and internal controls [3]. Concurrent leadership departures—CFO David Wyshner, General Counsel Edward Sebold, and global controller Vineet Khurana—all occurred amid scrutiny, undermining confidence in stable governance [3].
Market turmoil shakes buyer’s credibility
Kyndryl’s stock value plummeted by more than half after disclosure of the SEC probe and executive exits [5]. Shares dropped sharply from $23.60 to $10.59 in one trading day, representing a -55.127% decline before slight recovery to $11.12 [5]. This crash reflects investor skepticism about the company’s fiscal transparency and stability [5]. Kyndryl delayed its quarterly earnings report while reviewing financial procedures, further unsettling markets [5]. Although the firm states it does not anticipate revising annual figures, the damage to reputation raises serious doubts about its capability to manage mission-critical Dutch public services securely [3]. Such volatility increases perceived risk around entrusting national digital identity systems to an organization undergoing crisis-level disruptions [6].
Government response and future safeguards
While the cabinet maintains that intervening in private mergers is generally inappropriate, it acknowledges heightened sensitivity concerning strategic IT providers [4]. Staatssecretaris Van Marum affirmed the importance of monitoring changes in control over key service suppliers but noted the state did not consider acquiring Solvinity itself despite early warnings dating back to March 2025 [4]. At that time, Solvinity informed Logius about seeking buyers, followed months later by notifications to Justice & Security and the Interior Ministry [4]. Officials now commit to accelerating information sharing in similar cases going forward [4]. Should the Solvinity acquisition proceed, parliamentarians demand separation of DigiD contracts, planning to reassign them competitively to Dutch firms upon expiration as a protective measure [2].