Digital sovereignty in focus: Microsoft's email block is causing a stir!

Digital sovereignty in focus: Microsoft's email block is causing a stir!

The incident surrounding Microsoft's blocking of the email account of Karim Ahmad Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), not only made international headlines, but also raises questions about digital sovereignty. Following the US sanctions imposed in February, which targeted Khan and the ICC, among others, Microsoft is now facing considerable pressure and criticism. The blocking of the account was perceived as a direct hindrance to the work of the Court, which relies on digital service providers to function effectively. As a result of this situation, Khan was forced to switch to Proton, a Swiss email provider, to ensure that his communications were not hindered. Both report this NZZ as well as heise.de.

The situation also has an impact on the perception of digital sovereignty in Switzerland. Matthias Sturmer, head of the Public Sector Transformation Institute, reports an increase in inquiries from authorities and companies looking for ways to strengthen their digital independence. In Switzerland in particular, there is growing interest in solutions that do not depend on American providers. Swisscom has also noticed this, noting that customers are increasingly looking to switch from American cloud services to domestic alternatives.

Reactions and measures for digital sovereignty

The blockade has drawn criticism from critics who note that Swisscom often only sells products from foreign providers under Swiss branding. Sturmer emphasizes that there are now numerous open source solutions that offer greater independence and keep data in the country. The Bern University of Applied Sciences is actively working on a concept to create a Swiss center for digital sovereignty, which will be implemented in collaboration with authorities and open source providers.

The issue is also gaining momentum at the political level. Germany has already introduced a law favoring open source software, while Switzerland is still lagging behind and many administrations continue to lean towards large commercial providers. Pascal Mages from Open Circle criticizes the dependence on Microsoft and makes it clear that even if data is stored locally, it still has to be transferred to the USA due to the Cloud Act. He also emphasizes the advantages of open source technologies, which enable a change of provider without a lock-in effect.

The incident has raised not only legal and practical implications, but also deeper questions about digital independence and security. OSBA CEO Peter Ganten expressed concern about the moves by US companies and called for changes to strengthen digital sovereignty. Ganten emphasizes that the independence of courts can only be guaranteed through digital sovereignty. While Microsoft acknowledged the suspension of Khan's email account, it emphasized that services to the ICC were never suspended.

Meanwhile, Khan has temporarily resigned from his position amid ongoing investigations into his involvement in alleged sexual assaults. The incident not only raises questions about the digital world, but also fuels the need for sustainable, independent solutions in the digital space.