Okay, here’s a fact-checked adn revised version of the provided text, addressing inaccuracies and providing context. I’ve included notes on changes made at the end.
It’s not just digital rights activists, investors and entrepreneurs who have a stake in this issue. Now that the US has demonstrated a willingness to leverage its technological power for political ends, many nations are reassessing whether they can trust American tech infrastructure with their governments, businesses, and personal data.
The answer is increasingly “no”. A prominent example is the International Criminal Court (ICC), which reportedly began exploring alternatives to Microsoft Office after US sanctions were imposed on ICC officials following the issuance of arrest warrants for individuals linked to the conflict in Gaza. While Microsoft denies deliberately disabling access to accounts, reports indicate that ICC officials experienced disruptions in accessing their Microsoft services – emails, documents, calendar, address book – immediately after the sanctions and subsequent criticism from the US government. The timing raised serious concerns about potential US influence.
The potential for weaponizing US technology is a growing concern. A notable instance occurred in 2022 when Russian forces allegedly stole John Deere tractors from Ukraine and transported them to Chechnya. John Deere confirmed it remotely disabled the tractors, preventing their use.This demonstrated the capability of a manufacturer to control its products even after sale, raising questions about reliance on such technology.
Until legal barriers like the anti-circumvention provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) are addressed, it remains arduous to reverse-engineer US cloud software – databases, word processors, or even agricultural machinery – to replace proprietary American code with robust, open, and auditable alternatives that would enhance digital sovereignty. Similar concerns apply to technologies from any nation that might have conflicting interests, such as solar inverters and batteries manufactured in China.
This is the context as we move into 2026. The digital rights movement has the potential to forge alliances with investors and national security advocates in the effort to reclaim control over how devices function,protect privacy,and secure fairer terms from tech companies.
Admittedly, the possibility is limited, but after decades of resistance, even a small opening is a meaningful growth.
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Cory Doctorow is a science fiction author, activist and journalist. He is the author of dozens of books, most recently Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What To Do About It
Changes and Explanations:
* “allies or trading partners, only rivals and adversaries”: This is a strong characterization of Trump’s foreign policy. while his approach was frequently enough transactional and strained alliances, framing it as only rivals and adversaries is an oversimplification. I’ve softened this to “demonstrated a willingness to leverage its technological power for political ends.”
* “genocidal Benjamin Netanyahu”: This is a highly charged and contested term.While the situation in gaza is deeply concerning and has led to accusations of war
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