Recap: Franco-German Insights into Questions of Digital Sovereignty
An inspiring evening in the Erlangen Orangery and many thought-provoking contributions & discussions:
– Max Münßinger (FAU, Geography) reflected on the difficulties and challenges of an EU digital policy that has relied primarily on market power and regulation.
– Louis Pétiniaud (GEODE, Geography) illustrated, using the example of Ukraine, how complex the balance is between state protection against disinformation and the safeguarding of freedom of expression and press freedom.
– Felix Freiling (FAU, Computer Sciences) addressed the fundamental question of individual sovereignty and the extent of personal agency in the digital sphere.
– Kave Salamatian (GEODE, Computer Sciences) examined the restructuring of Iran’s internet infrastructure — a model that could be interpreted as “successful” state-level digital sovereignty, yet one that comes at the cost of control, repression, and isolation.
A big thank also to FAU WissenWollen and the FAU Multimedia Center for their excellent support and streaming, to all the authors of the the chapters of the book and to the co-editors Frédérick Douzet, Finn Damman and Amaël Cattaruzza.
Further information on the idea of the book and the geopolitics of digital sovereignty in an interview in German: Digitale Souveränität – Neue Imperien, Big Tech und Geopolitik
