As Ukrinform reports, citing NRC
The International Criminal Court in The Hague has decided to stop using Microsoft software and switch to European-developed solutions for its digital systems, in particular to reduce dependence on US suppliers.
According to Ukrinform, citing NRC, the decision was made in the context of growing calls for digital sovereignty and concerns about possible sanctions by the United States.
“The International Criminal Court (ICC) rejects Microsoft and opts for a European alternative”
European Alternative and Efforts Toward Digital Sovereignty
It is noted that the new software will most likely be supplied by the German company ZenDiS, created with the support of the German government to strengthen the digital sovereignty of government structures.
ZenDiS is described as a competence center that supports digital sovereignty at the federal, state, and municipal levels in Germany.
At the same time, NRC reports that Microsoft has stated its commitment to continuing cooperation with the court: the company notes that the deactivation of ICC prosecutor Karim Khan’s email from the Outlook system last year was a decision by the American authorities, not an initiative of the corporation. The statement also emphasizes that Microsoft values its relationship with the ICC and plans to continue providing the court with technological services.
The article notes that Microsoft also updated Windows 11 with voice control in Copilot.
The De Volkskrant newspaper previously wrote that the Dutch authorities are concerned about dependence on the products of the American corporation and see this as a threat to the country’s digital sovereignty. According to the publication, government agencies mostly operate within the Microsoft ecosystem, and abandoning it completely on short notice is not feasible. The government is now considering options to transition to European alternatives, including French and German solutions.
As Ukrinform reported, on August 20 the U.S. Department of State imposed sanctions on two ICC judges and two prosecutors for the “persecution” of Israeli and U.S. citizens.
In June the United States announced sanctions against four ICC judges for their involvement in prosecuting U.S. and Israeli citizens without the consent of those countries.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the shift toward European solutions underscores the growing priority of digital sovereignty and the pursuit of autonomous technologies within international institutions.
More interesting materials:
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- US sanctions sharply reduce Russian crude oil sea shipments, impacting Moscow’s oil revenues and forcing key importers like China, India, and Turkey to seek alternatives.
