As AI gives compute a physical address, companies and governments are discovering that where a model runs—and who can legally reach it—is now a strategic decision.
In May 2025, Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, opened his laptop in The Hague and found himself locked out of his Microsoft email account. According to The Associated Press, the Trump administration had sanctioned Khan over the court’s arrest warrants for Israeli officials. Microsoft, a U.S. company subject to U.S. law, was caught in the middle. The company president, Brad Smith, later denied that Microsoft had cut off the ICC, saying its actions never involved suspending the court’s services. For the court and its staff, the episode felt like a kill switch flicked from Washington.
As AI gives compute a physical address, companies and governments are discovering that where a model runs—and who can legally reach it—is now a strategic decision.
In May 2025, Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, opened his laptop in The Hague and found himself locked out of his Microsoft email account. According to The Associated Press, the Trump administration had sanctioned Khan over the court’s arrest warrants for Israeli officials. Microsoft, a U.S. company subject to U.S. law, was caught in the middle. The company president, Brad Smith, later denied that Microsoft had cut off the ICC, saying its actions never involved suspending the court’s services. For the court and its staff, the episode felt like a kill switch flicked from Washington. Tech
