Europe Calls Out US Tech After Microsoft Bars ICC Prosecutor’s Email

Microsoft blocked the email account of ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan in The Hague this week. It followed an executive order from President Trump, signed February 6, 2025, that freezes assets and restricts visas for ICC staff investigating American citizens or allies.

The ICC responded swiftly. It advanced staff salaries earlier this year to prepare for the freeze , and its investigations, including into crimes in Sudan and Gaza, now face delays and legal uncertainty .

European governments raised alarms. EU officials warned that this move sets a dangerous precedent, showing how US law can exert power over international justice. The UK, Germany, and France backed the ICC, cautioning that cutting access to Microsoft services threatens legal processes and critical communications .

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The incident sparked new urgency in Brussels. Officials say Europe should reduce its reliance on US-based cloud infrastructure and email services. Countries like Denmark and Germany have already begun testing alternatives to Microsoft Office . The EU plans to inject billions into domestic data centers, cloud, and AI under frameworks like the Digital Markets Act .

Analysts believe the ICC email cutoff crystallizes Europe’s position in an escalating tech clash between Washington and Brussels. A European official said, “Europe has proved dangerously dependent on US tech” . An editorial in The New York Times noted that even restoring the email access won’t erase doubts over data privacy and access .

Europe’s push for “digital sovereignty” has accelerated. The Munich Security Conference echoed warnings that digital dependency leaves Europe vulnerable to US political shifts . This week’s episode shows how geopolitical decisions in Washington now reverberate through European legal systems and tech policy.

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