Copenhagen and Aarhus, the two largest municipalities in Denmark, are actively exploring alternatives to Microsoft Office programs and cloud services, aiming to reduce their dependence on American tech giants. This decision is driven by economic considerations and growing concerns about data security and potential political pressure, particularly with the possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House.

The move reflects a broader trend gaining momentum since Trump’s initial presidency, with municipalities and organizations reassessing their reliance on US-based technology. The blocking of the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor’s email by Microsoft in May served as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with this dependence.

Henrik Appel Espersen, a representative from Copenhagen, highlighted the potential consequences of strained relations with the US, stating that Microsoft could be forced to shut down services, disrupting essential communication systems. In response, Aarhus Municipality has already begun migrating some systems to a German provider.

The email blockage of chief prosecutor Karim Khan, who was placed on the US blacklist after seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli officials, underscored these fears. Microsoft interpreted US sanctions as necessitating the blocking of Khan’s mailbox, forcing him to switch to a Swiss provider, Proton.

This incident has triggered concern among tech experts and prompted discussions within Danish politics. The Parliament’s Committee on Digitalization and IT recently held a hearing on Denmark’s digital sovereignty, where Minister for Digitalization Caroline Stage Olsen acknowledged that Denmark and Europe are excessively reliant on a small number of global tech giants.