Microsoft ceases blocking accounts due to U.S. sanctions.
Microsoft Plans to Pull Back from Personal Account Freezes for US Sanctions
Software titan Microsoft is reportedly intending to step back from personally overseeing account freezes as part of implementing US sanctions, according to a report by Wirtschaftswoche, citing company sources. Despite the news, Microsoft hasn't given an official response.
Recent weeks have seen Microsoft encountering fierce criticism following the blocking of Karim Khan's email account—the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Donald Trump's sanctions against the Hague-based court in February were the trigger, having issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant in November for war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
As neither the US nor Israel recognizes the ICC, the sanctions pose a threat to the court's operations. Recently, Khan took a temporary leave from his role in relation to an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct.
Legal Rethink
Microsoft's imminent change in approach is said to be a result of a recent evaluation of the company's legal obligations regarding shutdown orders from the US president, as per the Wirtschaftswoche report. Microsoft now claims to have discovered a method to adhere to such orders without needing to shut down customer accounts. However, the company has not disclosed the specifics, but a spokesperson admitted to Wirtschaftswoche that they had shared this legal opinion with the ICC. "We will remain in close contact with the ICC," they told the magazine.
It appears that Microsoft will rely on the fact that it does not offer services to individuals but merely provides the technical foundation on which customers can offer digital services to their employees or third parties. In future instances, Microsoft will cease personally intervening, as it did in February. Instead, the responsibility for freezing or deactivating a single user account will lie with the customer.
Accusations of Deputy Sheriff
Critics of Microsoft have criticized the company for acting as a "deputy sheriff" due to sanctions against the ICC. Peter Ganten, chairman of the Open Source Business Alliance (OSBA), has urged those responsible for the secure availability of state and private IT and communication infrastructure to take note of Microsoft's actions. However, the company has been targeted by strong criticism from both business customers and government agencies.
- The change in Microsoft's approach to account freezes seems to be a result of a legal reevaluation of its obligations regarding shutdown orders from the US president.2.Microsoft's move away from personally overseeing account freezes may lead to a shift in responsibility, with customers potentially having to freeze or deactivate individual user accounts.
- Critics, such as Peter Ganten of the Open Source Business Alliance, are accusing Microsoft of acting as a "deputy sheriff" due to its role in implementing US sanctions against the International Criminal Court.
