TechCrunch Industry News Amid Trump weaponized sanctions, Europeans look to rely less on US tech; plus R.I.P. Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh
Jan 28, 2026
Discussion of how U.S. sanctions and policy unpredictability are driving European efforts to reduce dependence on American tech. Belgium and the EU push for stronger domestic cybersecurity and replacements for popular U.S. platforms. Coverage of Amazon closing cashier-less Go and Fresh stores and shifting its Just Walkout technology to third parties while expanding Whole Foods.
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Europe Sees U.S. Tech As Sovereignty Risk
- European leaders view U.S. tech dominance as a national-security and sovereignty risk after unpredictable U.S. policy moves.
- The EU is pushing to reduce dependence on non-EU digital products, services, and infrastructure.
Judge Sanctioned Lost Access To U.S. Services
- Kimberly Prost, an ICC judge, was sanctioned by the Trump administration and lost access to many U.S. services.
- The sanctions made everyday activities like using credit cards and online services nearly impossible for her.
EU Moves Toward Digital Independence
- The EU Parliament urged the Commission to identify areas to cut reliance on foreign providers after a non-binding vote.
- France plans to replace Zoom and Teams with its own Visio video conferencing to bolster domestic tech.