Digital Sovereignty: What It Is, What It Could Be

Digital sovereignty is a term that has gained traction in recent discussions about cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and platform regulation. Governments, companies, and individuals across the globe all employ this concept to argue for greater control over data and communications infrastructure, as well as to boost their respective economies.

Companies offer "sovereign cloud" products to assure customers that their information remains under local jurisdiction. However, digital sovereignty may hold more potential: it could serve as a means for users worldwide to construct more resilient, open systems and the knowledge and infrastructure necessary to maintain them.

There is no universally accepted definition of digital sovereignty, nor a coherent stance within the digital rights community. The term remains somewhat ambiguous, with various stakeholders interpreting it differently. Policymakers, regulators, civil society groups, and others may have varying interpretations of the term, depending on whether they are referring to an individual or a nation.

To begin with a broad definition, digital sovereignty can be described as having the ability to control one's digital destiny. The implications of this idea differ significantly depending on whether the discussion is centered around an individual or a country.

When examining digital sovereignty within Europe and other regions where it has become a policy topic, the focus is often on reducing dependency on foreign cloud infrastructure, chips, platforms, and sometimes, foreign political priorities. These concerns encompass both economic and geopolitical aspects. If critical infrastructure is controlled by entities abroad—subject to the laws of another jurisdiction—the question arises: what control does a country truly have over its own digital future?

In countries where digital sovereignty is a policy concern, the discussions center on enhancing control over digital technologies, including hardware, to maintain an independent, self-determined, and secure digital environment. Germany, for instance, has initiated efforts to bolster sovereignty by funding initiatives like the Sovereign Tech Agency, which seeks to invest globally in open-source software components that underpin Germany's and Europe's competitiveness and innovation potential.

Opinions on digital sovereignty among Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) allies in Europe vary. Open Rights Group has defined digital sovereignty as the ability of a country to control its digital infrastructure, data, and technology, emphasizing its importance for the UK's economic and national security. Similarly, the European Partnership for Democracy has expressed worry that "a few Big Tech corporations decide our collective destiny" and advocates for the EU to explore alternative ownership models for tech companies, clearly defining their purpose and mission.

EDRi, an organization affiliated with EFF, argues that "Europe’s digital sovereignty starts with open source."

In some initiatives, such as DI.DAY, digital sovereignty is seen as an opportunity to liberate users from Big Tech dependencies. However, globally, conversations about digital sovereignty take on diverse forms. Indigenous communities have been discussing this topic for over a decade, emphasizing the inherent right of Native nations to govern their own digital ecosystems.

In Southeast Asia, the demand for digital sovereignty has spurred growth in the sovereign cloud industry, driven by concerns about data jurisdiction. Latin America focuses on digital public infrastructure, while African leaders aim to shift the continent from being mere consumers of technology to becoming architects of their digital infrastructure and data ecosystems.

In the Middle East and North Africa, concerns about reliance on U.S. technology companies, particularly those involved in conflict and disproportionate censorship, are of paramount importance.

Reem Almasri, a senior researcher based in Jordan, sees digital sovereignty as the ability of people and communities to choose, control, and use technology that aligns with their needs and values, especially considering the impact of U.S. companies engaged in regional conflicts. While striving for greater sovereignty from Big Tech offers benefits, there is a risk that some states may pursue digital sovereignty as a means to cut off or fragment access.

This risk has prompted caution from some, like Iranian professor Azadeh Akbari, who believes that the current wave promoting digital sovereignty as the solution to ending dependence on American and Chinese technology may be biased towards Eurocentric perspectives.