The International Criminal Court (ICC) is poised to significantly reduce its reliance on US technology, reportedly transitioning its core office software from Microsoft to the German open-source suite, Open Desk. This strategic shift, revealed by “Handelsblatt”, underscores growing concerns over potential sanctions from the United States and represents a landmark attempt by the court to assert technological sovereignty.
Osvaldo Zavala Giler, Registrar and head of the ICC’s IT department, confirmed the impending contract signing with Zendis, the state-backed center for digital sovereignty coordinating the development of Open Desk. Zavala Giler acknowledged the immediate challenges of the move, stating that it will likely involve higher short-term costs and potentially reduced efficiency. However, he emphasized the long-term necessity of bolstering the court’s technological autonomy, particularly given the increasing geopolitical complexities surrounding its mandate.
The decision arrives against a backdrop of escalating tension between the ICC and the US government under the Trump administration. Washington has repeatedly and publicly criticized the court’s investigations, particularly concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has previously imposed sanctions targeting senior ICC officials. These actions have raised serious questions regarding the court’s independence and vulnerability to political interference.
Zendis framed the move as a core component of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening the digital independence of public administration and mitigating reliance on individual technology providers. Open Desk, a collaboration of eight European software manufacturers, operates on the open-source principle, promising transparency and a sovereign alternative to proprietary systems. The platform’s architecture is intended to provide greater control over data and reduce susceptibility to external pressures, a crucial aspect for an institution tasked with investigating allegations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Critics argue that the transition represents more than just an IT upgrade; it’s a symbolic rejection of US influence and a statement about the importance of international legal institutions upholding their independence even when facing powerful political opposition. However, questions remain about the scalability and integration capabilities of Open Desk and the challenges inherent in migrating a large-scale operation away from a dominant technological ecosystem. The move signals a nascent trend among international bodies seeking to prioritize digital resilience in a world increasingly marked by geopolitical rivalry and the potential for technological coercion.
