Boycott on US goods in Greenland surges as app sees massive spike in downloads
Ian Rosenfeldt, creator of the “Made O’Meter” app, said the app was downloaded about 30,000 times in three days during the late-January diplomatic tensions—out of more than 100,000 total downloads since its March launch.
Rosenfeldt, 53, who lives in Copenhagen and works in digital marketing, developed the app after joining a Facebook group of Danes interested in boycotting American goods.
“People were frustrated and asking, ‘How do we actually do this in practice?’” he said. “If you scan a barcode, it’s often hard to tell if a product is American, Danish, or from elsewhere. Without that information, you can’t make a conscious choice.”
The app now uses artificial intelligence to analyze multiple products at once and suggest European alternatives. Users can set preferences like “No USA-owned brands” or “Only EU-based brands,” with the app claiming over 95% accuracy. “By using AI, you can take a photo of a product, and the app digs deep to find accurate information about it,” Rosenfeldt told The Associated Press during a demo at a Copenhagen grocery store.
After its initial launch, usage slowed—but spiked again in January when President Trump increased rhetoric about acquiring Greenland, a mineral-rich Arctic territory under Danish sovereignty. On Jan. 23, “Made O’Meter” recorded nearly 40,000 product scans in one day, compared with around 500 daily scans last summer. Usage has since fallen but remains at roughly 5,000 scans per day, Rosenfeldt said.
“It’s become more personal,” he added, describing the situation as “losing an ally and a friend.”
Trump initially threatened new tariffs on Denmark and seven other European countries opposing the Greenland proposal but later withdrew the threats after saying a “framework” deal had been reached with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Technical talks on Arctic security with Denmark and Greenland began in late January, though both insist that Greenland’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.
Rosenfeldt acknowledges that such boycotts are unlikely to harm the U.S. economy but hopes they will influence supermarkets to rely more on European producers.
Another Danish app, “NonUSA,” also saw a spike, surpassing 100,000 downloads in early February. Jonas Pipper, 21, one of its developers, said 25,000 downloads occurred on Jan. 21 alone, with 526 product scans performed in a single minute. About 46,000 users are in Denmark, and 10,000 in Germany.
“Some users said the app gave them a sense of regained control,” Pipper said.
Experts question the real-world impact of such apps. Christina Gravert, an associate professor of economics at the University of Copenhagen, noted that American products make up only 1–3% of grocery shelves in Denmark, mostly nuts, wine, and candy, though U.S. technology is widely used.
“Individual consumer boycotts rarely create lasting change,” Gravert said. “Big companies responding to consumer demand could have an impact, but real change usually requires organized effort.”
Among shoppers, opinions were split. Retired navy officer Morten Nielsen, 68, said, “We boycott, but mostly the well-known American brands. It feels personal, even if it doesn’t do much.”
Meanwhile, retiree Charlotte Fuglsang, 63, said, “I love America and traveling there. I don’t think this is the right way to protest.”
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