Online Roundtable: Digital Sovereignty in the EU and the UK

Over the past decade, the intersection of technology policy and geopolitics has fundamentally shifted from peripheral discussions to central strategic debates. The Trump Administration's aggressive tariff and industrial policies have significantly recast US technology companies as instruments of national power, intensifying global discussions about digital sovereignty. Within this context, digital sovereignty, defined as the control and autonomy over digital infrastructure, data flows, and platform governance, has emerged as a critical strategic imperative for countries and regions alike.

This online roundtable, hosted by the Technology, Internet, and Policy Group of the Political Studies Association, convenes a distinguished group of academic and policy experts to discuss the challenges of digital sovereignty as understood and pursued within the European Union and the United Kingdom. By examining the current legal frameworks, technological infrastructures, and strategic policy measures, participants will dissect how these entities are shaping their digital autonomy in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment.

Central to our discussion is the comparative exploration of approaches by various global actors to digital infrastructure development and digital sovereignty, encapsulated by our guiding research question:

How are different global actors approaching digital sovereignty and digital infrastructure development?

Participants will provide insights into ongoing policy developments, emerging regulatory mechanisms, and practical strategies adopted in response to global technological competition. The session will highlight best practices, discuss limitations, and identify opportunities for enhanced international strategic cooperation across sectors. Through targeted expert presentations and moderated dialogue, this roundtable aims to foster informed debate, policy reflection, and potential collaboration opportunities to strengthen sovereign, democratic digital infrastructures in the EU, UK, and beyond.

Moderator:

Dr. Giulia Sandri, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Panellists:

• Dr. Jessica Morley, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Digital Ethics Center, Yale University
• Kai Zenner, Head of Office & Digital Policy Adviser, European Parliament
• Prof. Dr. Rocco Bellanova, Research Professor, VUB – Law, Science, Technology & Society (LSTS)
• Mark Scott, Senior Resident Fellow, Democracy + Tech Initiative, Atlantic Council
• Huw Roberts, Doctoral Researcher, Oxford Internet Institute / Associate Fellow, RUSI