AFAIK, the equivalent of IME is not present in all AMD processors, only (maybe) those with integrated graphic chips ? But overall, yeah, Europe should just create their own chip industry, it's too critical to leave it to others...

Aw crap, they are in all Ryzens now ? Hopefully my 8-core Piledriver will last me a decade...

Ironically enough we (the UK) actually had a massive input in the current chip landscape via ARM until the government allowed it to be sold to a foreign buyer.

You have to wonder if the French government would have allowed the sale (as an example).

Seems like the conservatives don't give a shit about strategic national companies as long as the cheques clear.

ARM doesn't make CPUs, just designs for them which can of course easily be modified by any licensee. The chips themselves are usually made in Asia. So ARMs ownership is irrelevant to the issue of CPU back doors.

Are you aware that the French government allowed the sale of the maker of turbines for their nuclear submarines, aircraft carrier, and reactors ?