European governments are reconsidering their reliance on American technology and services, signaling a potential shift in digital partnerships. A recent report highlights how recent political developments have intensified these discussions.
The controversy erupted after President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, following the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. In response, Microsoft disabled Khan’s email account, a move that has sparked significant concern among European officials.
Casper Klynge, a former diplomat and Microsoft veteran, described Microsoft’s action as “the smoking gun that many Europeans had been waiting for,” prompting them to explore alternative solutions. Some ICC staff members have already transitioned to Swiss email services like Proton to avoid future disruptions.
Klynge explained, “If the U.S. administration targets certain organizations, countries, or individuals, there’s a real fear that American companies will be compelled to comply.” This has raised alarms about the potential for U.S. policies to influence the independence of European institutions.
Microsoft responded by announcing policy changes designed to better safeguard customer data and avoid similar incidents in the future. The company also clarified that it did not suspend the email accounts of four ICC judges sanctioned earlier this month. Additionally, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently unveiled new “sovereign solutions” aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity and data privacy of European institutions, signaling a move towards greater digital sovereignty.
