Digital sovereignty was arguably one of the most discussed topic at this year’s re:publica, yet for many, the term remains elusive. In an interview with WDR 5, Marielle-Sophie Düh, Fellow for International Digital Policy at the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs, researcher at the WZB and Hertie School and part of ClaimSov, breaks down why the concept is so hard to define and how we can better understand its practical implications.

Düh defines the core of digital sovereignty as digital self-determination, which applies to states, companies, and individuals alike. The conversation also delves into the geopolitical shift currently reshaping the digital world. Düh explains how we are moving away from the « multi-stakeholder model », the original, open vision of the internet, toward a landscape where states are reclaiming control and drawing digital borders. She highlights the « tech stack, » noting that sovereignty isn’t just about software, but includes everything from subsea cables and rare earth minerals to microchips and human labor.

Listen to her full analysis in German at WDR 5.