European Leaders Voice Concern Over Growing Reliance on U.S. Tech

A growing number of European leaders are expressing concern over their dependence on American technology and digital services, following a recent incident that highlighted the potential risks of such reliance. According to a report from The New York Times, this unease has been building for some time, but recent events may accelerate efforts toward digital sovereigntyin Europ.

Trump’s Sanctions Spark European Alarm

The turning point came when U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move followed the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. In a direct consequence of these sanctions, Microsoft disabled Khan’s email account, raising alarm among European institutions about how closely American tech giants follow U.S. foreign policy directives.

Microsoft’s Action Viewed as a Wake-Up Call

The decision by Microsoft was seen by many in Europe as a definitive warning. Casper Klynge, a former Danish diplomat and ex-Microsoft employee, described the move as “the smoking gun” that pushed European stakeholders to rethink their tech dependencies. In light of the incident, some ICC staff reportedly migrated to Proton, a Swiss-based encrypted email provider, as a more secure and independent alternative.

Digital Sovereignty Becomes a Strategic Priority

Klynge and others argue that if the U.S. government targets certain individuals or institutions, American tech companies may have no choice but to comply, regardless of international considerations. This raises serious questions about data control, privacy, and institutional autonomy for European governments and global organizations relying on U.S.-based platforms. As a result, there’s growing support across Europe for exploring homegrown technology solutions and fostering digital independence.

Microsoft Responds with Policy and Product Changes

In response to the backlash, Microsoft stated that it has revised its internal policies to better protect customers in politically sensitive situations. The company also emphasized that it did not disable the email accounts of four ICC judges sanctioned by the Trump administration earlier in the month. To address broader concerns, CEO Satya Nadella recently unveiled new “sovereign solutions”, designed specifically to safeguard European institutions and provide more localized control over data and infrastructure.

The Push for European Tech Autonomy Accelerates

The episode has become a catalyst for broader discussions about Europe’s digital future. With trust in American tech providers under scrutiny, the momentum for building resilient, sovereign European digital ecosystems is growing stronger. This could reshape how Europe sources its digital infrastructure and influence policy decisions around data governance, cybersecurity, and cloud services in the near future.