Digital sovereignty affects everyone
Digital sovereignty is no longer just a concern for tech experts or businesses – it's become a fundamental requirement for data protection and digital self-determination. Whilst millions of people entrust their most sensitive data to tech giants daily, they rarely know what happens to it. Emails, photos and documents end up on servers owned by companies whose business model is built on monetising this information. Taking control of one's own digital information has thus become one of the central challenges of our time.
What does digital sovereignty mean?
Digital sovereignty describes the ability of individuals, businesses or states to independently control their digital data, processes and technologies. The concept aims to be independent of large tech corporations or foreign infrastructures and to make one's own decisions about the use, storage and processing of data.
At its heart lies complete data control – the ability to determine where data is stored and who may access it. Closely linked to this is technological independence, achieved through transparent, secure and monopoly-free software and services. Data protection forms another cornerstone, safeguarding against surveillance, data misuse or unauthorised access. Regional sovereignty completes the concept through the use of services that comply with local data protection laws such as the GDPR.
Why digital sovereignty is indispensable
Our dependence on digital technologies is growing exponentially. Particularly problematic is the concentration on a few market-dominant providers. Anyone who builds their entire digital infrastructure on one or a few services becomes dependent on business decisions such as price increases, sudden service discontinuations, or arbitrary changes to terms and conditions.
How tech giants seize digital control
Large technology companies have developed sophisticated systems to bind users to them long-term. So-called "vendor lock-in" makes switching to other providers practically impossible through incompatible data formats, proprietary standards or high switching costs.
Alongside this, these corporations continuously collect and analyse user data, often without sufficient transparency about how it's used. This data monopolisation enables them to create detailed profiles and predict user behaviour. This becomes additionally problematic due to the lack of control over where this data is stored – often in countries with less stringent data protection laws. The systematic surveillance of user data for advertising, profiling or even state purposes further reinforces this concentration of power.
When states and corporations work together
Recent events highlight the risks of digital dependency. In February 2025, Microsoft blocked the official email account of Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, after the US government imposed sanctions against him.
According to revelations by The Guardian and Israeli media from 2024, Israeli intelligence services monitored the communications of ICC staff for over nine years to obstruct investigations. These cases demonstrate how the concentration of digital infrastructures in few hands can become a weapon against international institutions.
The path to digital independence
Digital sovereignty requires conscious decisions across several areas. One should choose providers that operate within one's own legal jurisdiction and maintain strict data protection standards. Encrypted communication and cloud storage ensure that data remains protected even during server attacks.
Open-source software plays a central role in digital sovereignty. Since the source code is publicly viewable, security experts worldwide can identify and fix vulnerabilities. Numerous European alternatives offer not only transparency but also independence from commercial interests.
Choosing regional providers subject to local laws reduces the risk of data transfers to countries with weaker data protection. Regular reviews of privacy policies and conscious adjustments to privacy settings minimise unwanted tracking.
Conclusion: The time to act is now
Digital sovereignty isn't a theoretical future vision but a current necessity. Recent incidents show how quickly digital dependencies can become real instruments of power. Those who consciously choose privacy-friendly and transparent alternatives today protect not only their own data but also strengthen society's digital independence. Control over one's own data isn't a luxury – it's a fundamental right in the digital era.
