Digital Sovereignty
Owning and controlling your digital life
Sovereignty means control and ownership. Digital sovereignty means we decide where our data lives and who can access it.
What It Means
Instead of being at the mercy of big platforms, we use tools and services that put us in charge of our own information.
Relying on Big Tech's "free" services often means giving up control. True digital sovereignty is about keeping that control in our own hands.
In Practice
For a normal person, this could be as straightforward as:
- Choosing a messaging app that doesn't mine your messages for data
- Using a cloud service where you hold the keys to your files
- Running your own server for community communications
- Choosing cooperative hosting over corporate platforms
The Core Principle
Ownership: Your photos, documents, and conversations stay yours, not locked in someone else's server for their gain.
This isn't about paranoia. It's about recognizing that data is valuable, and you should be the one who benefits from yours.
Levels of Sovereignty
| Level | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Individual | Using Signal instead of WhatsApp |
| Community | Running a Matrix server for your organization |
| Infrastructure | Self-hosting your file storage on Nextcloud |
| Full | Owning the hardware, software, and network connection |
Most people don't need "full" sovereignty. Even small steps matter.
Note: Sovereignty provides control; security culture determines how safely that control is exercised.
Getting Started
- Self-Hosting for Digital Sovereignty — A practical guide to running your own services
- File Storage Solutions — Nextcloud and alternatives
- Privacy Tools Index — Curated list of sovereignty-friendly tools
Why Surveillance Matters
- Surveillance and Data Ethics in Education — The expanding data dragnet in schools
- Privacy is Power Not Secrecy — Data is power, and it matters who holds it
Related
- Digital Self-determination — The parent framework
- Privacy by Design — Tools that protect you by default
- Digital Resilience — Skills for staying safe online
Digital sovereignty isn't all-or-nothing. Every step toward ownership is a step toward freedom.