Core Viewpoint - The heavy reliance of the Netherlands on American cloud services raises significant concerns about digital sovereignty and national security, especially in light of recent political tensions and incidents involving U.S. sanctions [1][2][3] Group 1: Dependence on American Cloud Services - A recent survey revealed that a vast number of Dutch public institutions, including government agencies and critical infrastructure operators, outsource their email and cloud services to American companies, with Microsoft holding a 60% market share in email services [1] - 63% of large Dutch enterprises and 60% of critical infrastructure companies, such as banks and water supply firms, depend on American cloud platforms like Microsoft and Google [1][2] - The Dutch government and various ministries are significantly reliant on Microsoft services, with 9 out of 15 ministries using its cloud solutions [1] Group 2: Risks and Security Concerns - Experts warn that key Dutch websites, including those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Bank, could theoretically be shut down or altered by U.S. entities due to this dependence [2] - The U.S. government's ability to access Dutch data, even stored within the EU, poses a substantial risk to national security, especially in times of political conflict [2] - A report from a Dutch think tank emphasizes the need for the Netherlands to accelerate the development of local or European cloud service alternatives to mitigate systemic reliance on U.S. technology [2] Group 3: Academic and Political Response - The Dutch academic community is actively addressing the risks associated with U.S. digital storage, launching initiatives to back up critical research data stored on American servers [3] - The Dutch Parliament has passed several motions urging the government to reduce dependence on U.S. cloud services and to promote the development of domestic or European alternatives [3] - There is increasing pressure from lawmakers for the Dutch government to present actionable plans to enhance digital infrastructure resilience [3]

Group 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]