Exploring European digital sovereignty with Julia Pohle

Summary

Julia P. discusses the concept of digital sovereignty in Europe, tracing its evolution from an idea of internet independence to a complex term encompassing state control and individual rights. Highlighting the EU's push for a digital society based on European values, she critiques the term's broad use and lack of clear definition, suggesting it's a mix of geoeconomic, geopolitical, and normative ambitions. The talk touches on the EU's regulatory efforts to counter dependencies on foreign tech companies and infrastructures, aiming to shape a global digital order.

Takeaways

• 📢 Julia P., a senior researcher in the politics of digitalization, discusses the concept of digital sovereignty in Europe and its implications for governance and policy.
• 🌐 Julia's research focuses on the discourses and narratives in digital policy debates, particularly the shifting role of national states in global communication governance.
• 🏛 Julia is based in Berlin and is associated with various research centers, including the Center for Digitalization, Democracy, and Innovation.
• 🔑 The term 'digital sovereignty' has gained prominence in European policy discussions since 2013, but lacks a unified definition and is interpreted differently by various actors.
• 🔄 There has been a discursive shift in how sovereignty is conceptualized in relation to digital networks, moving from a placeless entity to one that states and governments should control.
• 🇪🇺 Digital sovereignty in Europe primarily emerged from France and Germany, with the German presidency of the EU Council in 2019 declaring it as the ultimate goal of EU digital governance.
• 💡 The concept of digital sovereignty is used to express aspirations for a digital future, rather than describing the current state of affairs.
• 🤔 Julia questions whether the motivations behind digital sovereignty are purely geoeconomic and geopolitical or if there are deeper normative ambitions at play.
• 🔑 The EU's push for digital sovereignty is driven by overcoming dependencies on external digital infrastructures, tech companies, and addressing structural inequalities.
• 🌍 The EU aims to create a digital society based on European values and norms, but this may not resonate globally, especially considering historical colonial contexts.
• 📚 Julia's work invites a reevaluation of the motivations behind digital sovereignty and the need for a compelling narrative that can shape a new global digital order.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Julia P's research?

Julia P's research primarily focuses on discourses and narratives in international and national digital policy debates, and the shifting role of national states in shaping global communication governance.

What is Julia P's current position in the academic field?

Julia P is a senior researcher in the research group Politics of Digitalization at the V Bay in Berlin, and a senior associate researcher at the Center for Digitalization, Democracy and Innovation at the Brussels School of Governance.

What is the significance of the term 'digital sovereignty' in the context of the European Union?

The term 'digital sovereignty' signifies the EU's aspiration for autonomy and control over its digital infrastructures, economy, and policies, aiming to protect European values and norms in the digital space.

How has the concept of 'digital sovereignty' evolved over time?

The concept of 'digital sovereignty' has evolved from an initial idea of the internet as a placeless, borderless space to a current notion where states and governments are seen as having authority and control over cyberspace and digital networks.

What are the key moments or events that have shaped the discourse on digital sovereignty in Europe?

Key moments include the Snowden revelations in 2013, which highlighted dependencies on external digital infrastructures, and the German presidency of the EU Council in 2019, which declared digital sovereignty as the ultimate goal of the EU's digital governance program.

What is the current state of the definition of 'digital sovereignty' within the EU?

There is no shared definition of 'digital sovereignty' within the EU. It is a term with broad interpretation and is used across the political spectrum, by state and non-state actors, each with their own understanding and interpretation.

How does Julia P view the relationship between digital sovereignty and European democratic norms?

Julia P sees the connection between digital sovereignty and European democratic norms as a distortion, arguing that sovereignty is more about autonomy, power, and control rather than rights and freedoms.

What are the three dependencies that Julia P identifies as motivating the EU's discourse on digital sovereignty?

The three dependencies are the EU's dependence on external digital infrastructures, its reliance on non-European tech companies for digital technologies and services, and its realization of structural inequalities reinforced by digital transformation.

What does Julia P suggest as a potential issue with the EU's approach to digital sovereignty?

Julia P suggests that the EU's approach to digital sovereignty might be too focused on control and may not resonate well with democratic values. She also points out the risk of European values being perceived as colonial in nature when promoted globally.

What is Julia P's view on the future of digital sovereignty in shaping a new global digital order?

Julia P believes that while digital sovereignty is an important discourse, it may not be strong enough to define a new global digital order on its own. She suggests that the EU needs to find a more compelling narrative that can attract countries worldwide.

How does the EU's approach to digital sovereignty reflect its broader geopolitical and geoeconomic ambitions?

The EU's approach to digital sovereignty reflects its broader ambitions by attempting to create a digital society based on European values and norms, which is seen as a way to assert influence and control in the global digital economy and to counterbalance the dominance of other major players like the US and China.