When we talk about sovereignty, we usually think of borders, armies, or political systems. However, in the 21st century, there is another dimension that is equally or more important: digital sovereignty. And here an uncomfortable question arises: are we truly the owners of our digital space, or is it in the hands of others?
If we review the tools we use every day—emails, social media, messaging apps, cloud services, databases, or even operating systems—we will see that the vast majority come from North American companies. Some users use Chinese alternatives, but virtually none use solutions developed in Europe, Africa, or Latin America.
The result is a digital world polarized into two poles of power:
. The West, dominated by Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, or Apple.
. China, with giants like Huawei, Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance.
The rest of the planet plays a secondary role, with companies more powerful than many governments.
These mega-tech companies concentrate so much economic power that they not only lead innovation but also absorb any emerging competition. A brilliant startup may have a great idea, but it will hardly survive if it receives a multi-million-dollar acquisition offer within a few months.
In practice, these companies know more about us than our own governments: what we buy, what we search for, where we travel, how we communicate, and even our political affiliations. All of this is managed by invisible algorithms that operate above any national regulation.
With the arrival of artificial intelligence, this gap has become even more evident. Recommendation algorithms, language models, and prediction systems are advancing at such a speed that even legislators fail to understand how they work.
Ordinary citizens use these tools without questioning where they come from, but the truth is that every interaction feeds databases owned by private companies that answer not to parliaments or voters, but to shareholders.
Another problem stemming from this lack of digital sovereignty is the ease with which fake news spreads. Platforms prioritize virality over truth, and the content that generates the most engagement isn't always the most reliable.
The result is worrying: weakened democracies, polarized societies, and an increase in leaders with authoritarian tendencies who take advantage of the information chaos. In many cases, governments no longer have the real capacity to control what type of information circulates within their own borders.
And the question that arises is: Who controls our sovereignty?
The answer, though uncomfortable, is clear: it's not governments, but a few private companies. And these companies aren't interested in defending universal values like freedom, democracy, or human rights. Their goal is to maximize profits, even if that means manipulating the attention of billions of users.
Consequently, our digital sovereignty is subject to the algorithms of a few giants, unable to be regulated even in their own countries of origin.
Talking about digital sovereignty does not imply isolation or protectionism. It's not about closing the doors to the rest of the world, but about creating our own capabilities that allow each country or region to guarantee basic rights in the digital environment.
Europe, for example, has taken some steps with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the new Artificial Intelligence Law, but these measures are still insufficient in the face of the enormous power of Big Tech.
Digital sovereignty should mean:
. That our personal data is not subject to foreign legislation.
. That algorithms are auditable and transparent.
. That there are competitive local alternatives in software, hardware, and digital services.
. That citizens are not forced to depend on foreign monopolies to communicate, work, or obtain information.
And another big question is: when will governments take serious action?
The response seems to be delayed as the power of these companies grows unchecked. With each passing year, dependence grows greater and the room for maneuver shrinks.
The values we hold fundamental—freedom, democracy, and our rights—should not be in the hands of boards of directors located thousands of miles away. Digital sovereignty is, in reality, democratic sovereignty. And without it, we risk being mere users on a board controlled by others.
Ultimately, digital sovereignty is not an abstract concept or a technical debate: it is an essential pillar of modern life. Today, we depend on a small group of companies that control our communications, our data, and even the way we perceive reality. And we need viable alternatives to change that.
Recognizing this dependence is the first step. The second, more difficult but urgent, is to demand that our leaders develop clear policies to protect our rights in the digital space.
Because if we don't do it now, tomorrow it could be too late.
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