What's happened
Danish developers have launched apps like 'Made O’Meter' and 'NonUSA' to help consumers identify and avoid American products amid rising tensions over Greenland. The apps gained significant downloads during recent diplomatic disputes, aiming to empower consumers and influence supermarket choices, though experts question their long-term impact.
What's behind the headline?
The rise of 'Made O’Meter' and similar apps illustrates a symbolic pushback against US influence amid geopolitical tensions. These tools leverage AI to empower consumers, but their practical impact remains limited due to the small share of US products in Danish retail. The apps serve more as political statements than effective economic tools. Their popularity during the Greenland controversy underscores how digital activism can reflect national sentiment, yet real change requires organized policy efforts. The reliance on American technology in Denmark highlights the challenge of boycotts in a globalized economy, where US tech giants dominate both consumer devices and enterprise infrastructure. This situation suggests that individual consumer actions, while symbolically powerful, are unlikely to shift the broader economic landscape without coordinated political or corporate responses.
What the papers say
AP News reports that the 'Made O’Meter' app saw a surge of nearly 40,000 scans in a single day during the peak of the Greenland controversy, with over 20,000 users in Denmark. The Independent highlights the app's practical help in identifying US products but questions its overall impact, noting US technology's dominance in Denmark. Christina Gravert from the University of Copenhagen points out that US products constitute only 1-3% of Danish shelves, emphasizing that American tech's pervasive presence in devices and software makes boycotts challenging. The articles collectively suggest that while these apps symbolize resistance, their real-world influence on economic behavior is limited, and lasting change depends on broader political and corporate shifts.
How we got here
The apps emerged in response to Donald Trump's 2026 threats to acquire Greenland, a Danish territory, which sparked protests and calls for boycotts of US products in Denmark and across Europe. Developers created tools to help consumers identify US-owned brands, reflecting broader political tensions and a desire for economic independence. Despite initial surges, usage has fluctuated, and experts note the limited presence of US products in Danish stores, emphasizing American technology's dominance instead.
Go deeper
More on these topics
-
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
-
Greenland is the world's largest island, located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.