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   The International Criminal Court is ditching Microsoft software for an open   
   source alternative   
      
   Date:   
   Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:44:53 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   The ICC wants to become less dependent on US providers like Microsoft.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   The International Criminal Court (ICC) is looking to replace its internal    
   work environments to move away from US-made software in fear of retaliation   
   from the US administration.    
      
   The Microsoft software currently used in the Hague-based ICC is likely to be   
   replaced with Open Desk, a German collaboration software alternative which is   
   open source , meaning developers have chosen to release the source code -   
   opening it up to scrutiny and often meaning that bugs and vulnerabilities are   
   picked up quickly by the community.    
      
   The move protects the ICC from further targeted sanctions by the US    
   government for transgressions against the United States and Israel - in which   
   judges and prosecutors for the court have been threatened with travel bans    
   and asset freezes.   
      
   Kill switch    
      
   Early in 2025, Chief Prosecutor for the ICC Kamrin Khan, after being hit with   
   sanctions from the Trump administration, was disconnected from his email   
   service.    
      
   This action was thought to be from Microsoft supporting US sanctions -   
   although the firm denied this, with a spokesperson stating; at no point did   
   Microsoft cease or suspend its services to the ICC.    
      
   This sparked fears that US tech firms could flip a kill switch and cut    
   digital services on orders of Trump - outlining the need to become less   
   dependent on US technology, with firms like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon   
   dominating Europes digital services and cloud markets.    
      
   Open Desk is created for public administrations by the German Centre for   
   Digital Sovereignty of the Public Administration (Zendis)  - a publicly owned   
   company created with the aim of building sovereign digital infrastructure for   
   EU states.    
      
   Efforts have been made to reduce EU reliance on the US not just for digital   
   services, but for hyperscalers too - as Trumps increasingly hostile and   
   unpredictable foreign policy leaves allies exposed and looking to develop   
   their own infrastructure.    
      
   Via Handelsblatt (translated online)    
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-international-criminal-court-is-ditching-mic   
   rosoft-software-for-an-open-source-alternative   
      
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