Dutch Government Protests Microsoft Email Block on ICC Prosecutor
(MENAFN) The Dutch government has expressed serious concern over Microsoft's decision to block the email account of International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan. The move has triggered a review of the country's reliance on digital infrastructure provided by American tech firms.
A Dutch newspaper reported that Microsoft acted in response to U.S. sanctions introduced by President Donald Trump in February. The sanctions came after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As a U.S.-based company, Microsoft adhered to the federal mandate, effectively severing Khan’s access to his official email account.
"This has raised red flags at all levels of government. Urgent evaluations of our digital exposure are now underway," a senior government official told a news agency, speaking on condition of anonymity. The incident has prompted Dutch authorities to conduct an immediate reassessment of their digital security and technological dependencies.
Klaas Knot, president of the Dutch central bank (De Nederlandsche Bank, or DNB), issued a warning on Tuesday regarding the country’s reliance on foreign-controlled tech. He highlighted that even services perceived as domestic—such as the national payment platform iDEAL—are built on foundational infrastructure supplied by American companies that dominate more than 60% of the European market.
Knot also pointed to the vulnerabilities associated with cloud computing, noting that Dutch banks, businesses, and government bodies—including DNB—store highly sensitive information on platforms operated by major U.S. providers like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
