Digital Sovereignty
The Challenge
Digital sovereignty refers to the capacity of individuals, communities, and nations to maintain autonomy, self-determination, and strategic independence in the digital realm. As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly centralized and controlled by a small number of global entities, asymmetric power relationships threaten democratic governance and individual rights. Key concerns include:
- Infrastructure Control: Critical digital infrastructure (cloud services, submarine cables, internet exchange points) is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few corporations and nations, creating dependencies and vulnerabilities for others.
- Data Localization Challenges: Cross-border data flows create complex jurisdictional questions about who controls data, with implications for privacy, security, and economic development.
- Platform Governance Gaps: Private platforms increasingly set de facto governance rules for digital spaces, often with limited accountability to the communities and nations they serve.
- Technical Standards Influence: The ability to shape technical standards and protocols creates long-term power imbalances in digital governance, with underrepresentation of Global South perspectives.
Our Approach
The Global Tech Governance Institute takes a nuanced approach to digital sovereignty that balances autonomy with the benefits of interconnection:
- Governance Frameworks: Developing models for digital infrastructure governance that respect sovereignty while enabling beneficial cross-border data flows and services.
- Policy Toolkits: Creating resources for policymakers to evaluate sovereignty implications of digital policies and develop context-appropriate approaches.
- Multi-stakeholder Dialogues: Facilitating conversations between governments, civil society, and the private sector to develop shared understandings of digital sovereignty principles.
- Technical Capacity Building: Supporting initiatives that build technical sovereignty through open-source technologies, local expertise development, and infrastructure diversification.
Current Initiatives
Our work in this area currently includes:
Digital Infrastructure Mapping Project
A research initiative documenting global digital infrastructure ownership and control patterns, identifying concentration risks and sovereignty implications.
Sovereignty by Design Framework
A policy development project creating principles and guidelines for incorporating sovereignty considerations into digital infrastructure and service design.
Regional Digital Autonomy Network
A collaborative initiative supporting regional approaches to digital sovereignty that pool resources and expertise while respecting local contexts.
Public Digital Infrastructure Models
A research and advocacy project exploring public and commons-based alternatives for critical digital infrastructure that enhance democratic control and sovereignty.
Matrix Integration
Related Programs
Scientific Foundations
- Digital Identity Systems
Research on sovereign identity frameworks and decentralized identity technologies
- Network Architecture Analysis
Study of network architectures that enable sovereignty while maintaining interoperability
Key Publications
Get Involved
There are several ways to engage with our work on digital sovereignty:
- Participate in our Regional Digital Autonomy Network
- Contribute to the Digital Infrastructure Mapping Project
- Attend our workshops and events on sovereignty by design
- Support our research and advocacy work