Keyboard shortcuts

Press ← or → to navigate between chapters

Press S or / to search in the book

Press ? to show this help

Press Esc to hide this help

Digital Sovereignty

Reclaiming Control Over Our Digital Infrastructure

Digital sovereignty is not merely about data localization or regulatory compliance - it’s about fundamental democratic control over the technologies that increasingly govern our lives. PowerCommons embodies this principle by creating computing infrastructure that communities can truly own, understand, and control.

The Crisis of Technological Dependence

Hidden Control Mechanisms

Every modern processor contains multiple layers of proprietary control:

  • Management Engines: Intel ME, AMD PSP run below the operating system with full system access
  • Proprietary Firmware: Unauditable code controlling critical functions
  • Hardware Backdoors: Undocumented features accessible to manufacturers
  • Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Components from untrusted sources with unknown modifications

These mechanisms create fundamental vulnerabilities that no amount of software security can address.

Economic Extraction

The current computing paradigm extracts value through:

  • Planned Obsolescence: Artificial limitations forcing constant upgrades
  • Vendor Lock-in: Proprietary standards preventing migration
  • Surveillance Capitalism: Data extraction as primary business model
  • Rent-Seeking: Software-as-a-Service replacing ownership

PowerCommons breaks these extraction patterns by ensuring permanent ownership and control.

Technical Foundations of Sovereignty

Verifiable Security

True sovereignty requires the ability to verify every aspect of the system:

  • Open Hardware: Every logic gate documented and inspectable
  • Reproducible Builds: Identical outputs from source code
  • Formal Verification: Mathematical proofs of security properties
  • Transparent Supply Chain: Known origin of every component

Technological Independence

PowerCommons achieves independence through:

  • No Proprietary Dependencies: Fully open stack from silicon to application
  • Local Manufacturing Capability: Designs suitable for diverse fab processes
  • Knowledge Transfer: Complete documentation and education
  • Tool Chain Freedom: Open development tools throughout

Call to Action

For Policymakers

  • Mandate Open Hardware: Require transparency in public procurement
  • Fund Development: Support open processor initiatives
  • Create Standards: Establish sovereignty requirements
  • Build Capacity: Invest in local manufacturing

For Technologists

  • Contribute Code: Develop open implementations
  • Share Knowledge: Document and teach
  • Build Tools: Create development infrastructure
  • Form Networks: Connect with aligned projects

For Citizens

  • Demand Transparency: Require open systems in public services
  • Support Development: Contribute to funding campaigns
  • Learn and Share: Understand and explain the importance
  • Organize Locally: Build community technology initiatives

Resources

Essential Reading

  • “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism” - Shoshana Zuboff
  • “Radical Technologies” - Adam Greenfield
  • “The Stack” - Benjamin Bratton
  • “Platform Capitalism” - Nick Srnicek

Pioneering Organizations

  • European Digital Rights (EDRi)
  • Free Software Foundation Europe
  • Chaos Computer Club
  • La Quadrature du Net

Policy Documents

  • EU Digital Sovereignty Strategy
  • German Sovereign Tech Fund Charter
  • Barcelona Digital Sovereignty Plan
  • Amsterdam Digital Agenda

“Technology is the answer, but what was the question?”
— Cedric Price

The question is: How do we build technology that serves humanity rather than exploiting it? PowerCommons provides one answer: through radical transparency, democratic control, and the commons model.

Digital sovereignty is not a destination but a continuous process of reclaiming control over our technological future. Join us in building infrastructure for human flourishing rather than corporate extraction.