Microsoft(US:MSFT) Xin Hua She·2025-05-21 07:41Group 1 - The email account of Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, was blocked by Microsoft, raising concerns about the monopoly of American tech companies in the Netherlands [1] - The incident has prompted discussions in the Netherlands about reducing reliance on American technology, leading to a movement towards "de-Microsoftization" [1] - At least 10 key public institutions in the Netherlands have approached local cloud service provider Intermax Group to seek alternatives to American cloud services [1] Group 2 - Transitioning away from Microsoft is challenging due to deep integration of its systems within many government departments, which have developed a "path dependency" on Microsoft technologies [2] - The Dutch Ministry of the Interior is reassessing its reliance on Microsoft and exploring alternative technologies from France and Germany, although current projects still depend on Microsoft software [2] - Local companies are assisting hospitals and government agencies in storing email copies locally to mitigate risks associated with potential service interruptions from Microsoft [2] Group 3 - The Dutch Central Bank has raised alarms about the national security risks posed by the heavy reliance on American tech companies, particularly in the financial sector [3] - The online payment system iDEAL, while appearing to be Dutch, relies on key technologies controlled by two American companies that dominate over 60% of the European market [3] - There is significant dependence on American companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft for storing and managing sensitive data across Dutch banks, businesses, and government institutions [3]