Teams vs Element: Which Guards Your Data Better?
Explore how Microsoft Teams (US) and Element (GB) handle participant data protection. Ensure your video calls remain secure with the right choice.
Should You Switch to Element?
Enhanced privacy, self-hosting, GDPR compliance
Loss of integrated Office 365 and app ecosystem
Privacy-focused users should switch; feature-seekers may hesitate
At a Glance
US data laws
GDPR protected
Microsoft Teams
Contact
Element
freemium
Privacy & Compliance Comparison
Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance
| Criteria | Microsoft Teams | Element |
|---|---|---|
Server Location | US, EU, and other global locations | EU |
GDPR Compliance | Partial (SCCs) | Full |
Open Source | ||
E2E Encryption | Enterprise only | Optional |
Data Portability | Partial | Full export |
CLOUD Act Notice
Microsoft Teams is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. Element is not subject to US jurisdiction.
Microsoft Teams
🇺🇸Microsoft
Element
🌍Element
US Data Storage
Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities
EU Data Protection
Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency
Certifications & Compliance
No certifications listed
Reasons to Switch
- ✓Matrix protocol allows interoperability with other platforms.
- ✓Self-hosting supports complete data control and privacy.
- ✓GDPR compliance ensures data protection in the EU.
- ✓Open source offers transparency and community-driven improvements.
Things to Consider
- !Migration from Teams may disrupt workflows temporarily.
- !Element lacks integrated Office 365 app support.
- !Learning curve for users unfamiliar with Matrix protocol.
Migration Overview
Depends on data size and complexity
Quick Steps
Create Element account and configure settings
Export and prepare data from Microsoft Teams
Import data, test integrations, and migrate users
Note: Switching to Element may require understanding of the Matrix network and its functionalities.
Other alternatives to Microsoft Teams
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Ready to make the switch?
Start using Element today and take control of your data privacy.