Comment: International data traffic can no longer be relied upon. European companies must act now.
How secure and reliable is international data traffic under Trump’s administration? This question no longer only concerns experts – it is becoming increasingly urgent for everyone, from private individuals to global corporations. But that’s not all: even the largest international and independent judicial authority has now felt the power of US providers. The conclusion is clear: international data traffic can no longer be trusted. Europe must act now.
Microsoft blocks International Criminal Court
Microsoft has blocked the e-mail account of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court – apparently under political pressure from the US government. The fact that even an independent international court was not spared highlights just how fragile and politically vulnerable our digital infrastructure truly is. It also underscores our dependence on the monopolistic power of just a few corporations. Europe must urgently regain control of its data and digital sovereignty – before it’s too late.
This incident is merely the latest example of long-standing issues that continue to be ignored by many companies. Can European data truly remain secure if it continues to be stored in countries like the US or China – and if not only the software, but also the hardware used is heavily dependent on these countries and their legal systems?
Bye-bye, data protection and data security!
Recently, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced its intention to use private health data of US citizens for a comprehensive – and highly controversial – autism study. Without consent, of course. The study is to be conducted in collaboration with a foundation led by Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and clearly illustrates how little protection personal health data enjoys in the US (despite laws like HIPAA) – and how quickly such sensitive information can end up in dubious projects. To assume that European data won’t face the same fate is, at best, grossly negligent.
Tech giants pay lip service
So what do the American providers have to say? In early May, Microsoft issued a statement promising “more cybersecurity, data protection and digital sovereignty for Europe.” It reads like an attempt to preempt critical voices like this one. But as legal expert Dennis-Kenji Kipker aptly puts it: “How can a blog post by a Microsoft representative possibly offer the legal protection required against a US president acting increasingly erratically and in his own interest?” The fact is: companies like Microsoft remain subject to non-European jurisdictions. US legislation such as the Patriot Act and the CLOUD Act grant intelligence agencies extensive access to confidential data – even if stored in European data centers. Promises of control and sovereignty? Little more than lip service.
Security, made in …?
Even more concerning is the fact that German and European companies continue to be sold off abroad. Consider Boxcryptor (data encryption, sold to Dropbox in 2022), Owncloud and Dracoon (secure cloud storage, acquired by Kiteworks in 2023), or most recently, Hornetsecurity (cybersecurity, set to be acquired by Proofpoint in 2025). “Security made in Germany” – once a hallmark of quality – now risks becoming an empty phrase. More accurate might be: “Company headquartered in the USA.” Even the tech giants themselves seem to realize how untrustworthy that sounds to European ears.
Time to rely on sovereign, local providers
In light of this, it’s time to act! Switching to sovereign European alternatives won’t happen overnight – but the first steps are more important than ever, and it is not too late yet.
netfiles was one of the first European providers of virtual data rooms and has prioritized the highest standards of security and quality from the very beginning. As a German company – with development, hosting, and headquarters in Germany – your data is safe from access by US authorities. We operate strictly in accordance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the legal requirements of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Our virtual data rooms offer much more than traditional file-sharing tools: data protection-compliant video conferencing without Microsoft Teams, collaboration without Office365, and secure internal and external sharing without OneDrive or Outlook. If you’re looking for a reliable and independent alternative to American platforms, netfiles is already here – sovereign, secure, and made in Germany. Get in touch or test our data rooms free of charge.