Shaping a Data Commoning Polity
Prospects and Challenges of a European Digital Sovereignty
Stefano Calzati (TU Delft - Urban Data Science)
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Abstract
The concept of “digital sovereignty” has gained momentum due to the emergence of a multipolar geopolitical scenario based upon different visions of today’s digital society. In this scenario, the United States, China, and the European Union are major players, each pursuing their understanding of digital sovereignty and their approach to digital transformation. The EU conceives of digital sovereignty as technological autonomy from other competitors, and to achieve this it has carved for itself the role of international regulator. De facto, however, the EU enacts an individual-centric and economic-driven digital strategy that hinders the possibility of a fully-fledged European digital sovereignty. Notably, the concept fails to embed the collective-level dimension proper to sovereignty as such. To tackle this, the paper explores data commoning as the basis for shaping a well-formed European polity, key to its digital sovereignty.