Digital Sovereignty and Internet Governance
Summary
Digital sovereignty refers to the capacity of states, organisations and individuals to exercise authority and autonomy over digital infrastructure, data flows and the regulatory frameworks that govern online activity. At its core, it addresses who controls networks, where data is stored and processed, and how cross-border information exchanges are managed. Internet governance denotes the collective processes, norms and institutions through which stakeholders shape the rules and standards that underpin the global internet. Traditionally rooted in a multistakeholder ethos, this governance landscape encompasses technical bodies, private enterprises, civil society and governmental actors. Key concerns include cybersecurity, data localisation, the fragmentation of the global network into competing regional or national architectures and the mitigation of digital divides. Emerging debates highlight tensions between open-internet ideals and strategic imperatives for technological resilience, economic competitiveness and national security. The practical applications of digital sovereignty range from securing critical infrastructure and ensuring privacy protections to fostering indigenous innovation and preserving the free flow of information. As geopolitical rivalries intensify, internet governance has assumed new significance in diplomacy, trade negotiations and human rights advocacy, underscoring the need for robust, inclusive and adaptable governance mechanisms that balance state interests, commercial innovation and individual freedoms.
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Digital Sovereignty and Internet Governance publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in digital sovereignty and internet governance across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Digital sovereignty: The authority and capacity of an entity to govern digital resources, infrastructure and data within a defined jurisdiction.
Internet governance: The development and application of shared principles, norms and decision-making processes that shape the operation and evolution of the global internet.
Multistakeholderism: A governance model in which governments, private sector actors, technical communities and civil society collaborate on equal footing to set policies and standards.
Network ideology: A framework of beliefs and values that informs how stakeholders exercise power and control through the design and regulation of communication infrastructures.
References
- Pushing boundaries: An empirical view on the digital sovereignty of six governments in the midst of geopolitical tensions. Government Information Quarterly (2023).
- 5G and the notion of network ideology, or: The limitations of sociotechnical imaginaries. Telecommunications Policy (2023).
- Advancing UN digital cooperation: Lessons from environmental policy and governance. World Development (2024).
- Digital sovereignty. Internet Policy Review (2020).
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