Concerns Raised Over Microsoft's Handling of ICC Chief Prosecutor's Email

By Netvora Tech News

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Members of the Dutch parliament are seeking clarification from Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigrid Kaag and State Secretary for Digitalization Raymond Knops over reports that Microsoft had blocked the email account of the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The allegations surfaced last week when news agency AP reported that Microsoft had blocked the chief prosecutor's email address, forcing them to switch to Proton Mail. Microsoft claims to have had ongoing contact with the ICC since February, denying any wrongdoing. However, lawmakers are concerned that the move may have compromised the independence and neutrality of the ICC, as well as other sectors that rely on American tech services, including critical infrastructure and government agencies. "We want to know if market dominance in the digital domain is being misused to exert pressure on independent justice," said GreenLeft-PvdA-Kamerlid Mariko Kathmann, who has requested information on how Microsoft plans to break its market dominance and prevent similar incidents in the future. Kathmann also wants to know if the Dutch government is prepared to take measures to prevent the Netherlands' citizens from losing access to their Microsoft accounts and bank records due to sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. "How can a company like Microsoft deny access to digital services on behalf of the American president?" Kathmann asked. "What is the legal basis for this, and could Microsoft have refused?" Additionally, CDA-Kamerleden Arlette Bontenbal, Peter Krul, and Bert-Jan Boswijk have raised concerns about the potential implications of this move, citing the possibility that any organization that uses American digital services, including government agencies and the Dutch parliament, could lose access to these services at any moment without due process. The lawmakers are demanding a concrete agenda from the government to reduce the Netherlands' and the European Union's dependence on American digital services and to strengthen digital sovereignty. Veldkamp and Szabo have been given three weeks to respond to the questions.