Digital Sovereignty: How to Debunk a Myth

Recent discussions at the re:publica conference in Berlin highlighted the multifaceted and often debated concept of digital sovereignty in Europe. Experts from the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB), Julia Pohle and Marielle-Sophie Düh, critically examined the term, suggesting a need to move beyond buzzwords towards a more concrete understanding of its implications for the European digital landscape. Their analysis underscored the wide range of interpretations, from foundational rights to strengthening the European AI startup scene, pointing to a lack of consensus on the core objectives and beneficiaries of digital sovereignty. The debate surrounding digital sovereignty at re:publica encompassed various technological domains including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and payment systems, with participants holding diverse perspectives. While some, like re:publica co-founder Markus Beckedahl, linked it to fundamental rights, others, such as STA SEK Thomas Jarzombek, focused on fostering domestic AI innovation. Discussions also featured calls for increased adoption of open-source solutions from European companies, contrasted with arguments for rapid deregulation to spur growth. Pohle and Düh argue that the discourse often overlooks crucial foundational questions: for whom should digital sovereignty be achieved, by whom, and to what ultimate end? They also debunk the myth that digital sovereignty is a novel or inherently democratic European concept, referencing a 1978 report by Simon Nora and Alain Minc that already highlighted concerns about American industrial dominance in computing, thus framing the current debate within a long-standing historical context.