Dutch prosecutors seize an Italian provider’s server at US request; data remain in the Netherlands
Dutch police seized a server belonging to Italian internet provider Autistici/Inventati (A/I) at Amsterdam Science Park, following a US request under the Dutch-US mutual legal assistance treaty. Amsterdam prosecutors say there were no grounds to refuse and that the data have not been shared with the US; the Dutch Cloud Community is demanding clarification on whether an independent Dutch legal review took place.
Bottom line — A/I had served about 20,000 organisations and activists before US sanctions prompted it to dissolve.
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The Dutch Cloud Community says the unclear review process risks undermining trust in Dutch data centres.
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The prosecutors’ office says the seizure followed the mutual legal assistance treaty and that there was no basis for refusal.
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A/I provided free email and web hosting for about 25 years, according to NL Times and NOS.
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The US designated A/I in late August; NOS reports that Washington alleges it provided services to far-left groups.
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After the sanctions, A/I lost access to its domain, its PayPal account and its Italian bank account, according to NL Times and NOS.
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Banca Etica said it blocked A/I’s account over concern that secondary sanctions could threaten services to its 130,000 other customers.