Digital Sovereignty and the Future of the Internet

Digital Sovereignty: The End of the Open Internet as We Know It? (Part 1)

Published on 03 April 2025 • Updated on 03 April 2025
Author: Marília Maciel

Digital sovereignty is a concept that has evolved dramatically over the past decade. Once a fringe idea in digital policy debates, it has now taken center stage in discussions about cybersecurity, international relations, and technological autonomy. In this two-part series, we explore the multifaceted nature of digital sovereignty. This first installment examines the political economy perspectives, its historical roots, and how digital sovereignty intersects with cybersecurity practices. We also dive into practical examples—from beginner to advanced levels—featuring code samples that demonstrate real-world detection and parsing techniques for network scanning outputs.

In this blog post, we will cover:

• The Concept of Sovereignty and Digital Sovereignty
• The Evolution from a Liberal to a Neo-Mercantilist Approach
• Digital Sovereignty in the Context of Cybersecurity
• Real-World Technical Examples and Code Samples
• Advanced Applications and Use Cases
• A Glance at Upcoming Trends and Policy Shifts

Let’s begin our journey by examining the historical and conceptual foundations of sovereignty.

1. Understanding Sovereignty and Autonomy

Sovereignty is a political and legal concept that dates back to the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. It historically signifies the authority of a state to govern itself without external interference. This concept, however, has never been static. Instead, it evolves depending on social, political, and technological changes.

1.1 Traditional Notions of Sovereignty

Historically, sovereignty was anchored in three major principles:

• Territorial Integrity: The authority of a state is bound by geographical borders.
• Non-Interference: External entities should not meddle in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.
• Legal Equality: All states have the right to govern themselves on equal terms.

These principles laid the groundwork for how we understand modern statehood. Yet, in an increasingly interconnected digital economy, these ideas are challenged by the transborder nature of information flows and technological infrastructure.

1.2 Redefining Sovereignty in the Digital Age

As Diplo’s discussions have shown, the concept of digital sovereignty advances from simply controlling physical borders to managing data flows, digital infrastructures, and network security. Geenens encapsulated this idea by suggesting:

"When speaking of sovereignty, we invoke the perspective from which a political community can consciously understand itself as an autonomous agent."

This definition emphasizes a community’s ability to respond to challenges—be they technological or economic—in a manner that enhances its autonomy. In digital sovereignty, the key is not achieving absolute self-sufficiency, but rather maintaining the capacity to choose strategic responses to global digital pressures.

1.3 The Role of Autonomy

Autonomy, in this context, implies the capability to control one’s course of action by leveraging both internal resources and external inputs. In the cybersecurity realm, for example, autonomy translates into the ability to detect, identify, and mitigate threats without relying solely on external systems or third-party services. This balance between resisting unwarranted external interference and harnessing beneficial global interactions is central to digital sovereignty’s evolution.

2. The Political Economy of Digital Sovereignty

Digital sovereignty is inherently a political economy issue. At its core, it represents the struggle between nationally defined legal frameworks and a borderless digital market. To understand this evolution, it helps to break down the narrative into three distinct but interconnected acts.

2.1 Act I: The Liberal Rejection of Digital Sovereignty

For many years following the fall of the Berlin Wall, a liberal approach dominated digital policy debates. This approach emphasized:

• Open Internet: Encouraging free and open cross-border data flows.
• Minimal State Intervention: Allowing international markets and tech giants to foster innovation organically.
• Global Flows: Belief in the benefits of economic globalization and digital integration.

During the Clinton administration, the United States spearheaded initiatives to open the informational superhighway despite some resistance from both European and developing nations. The liberal outlook saw any form of digital sovereignty—interpreted as state-imposed restrictions—as a barrier to progress. However, behind the scenes, significant public investments in technology and innovation ensured a competitive edge that was not entirely free-market based.

2.2 Act II: Digital Sovereignty as a Reaction to Inequalities

In recent years, the narrative around digital sovereignty has shifted. What was once perceived as an unnecessary barrier now serves as a tool for addressing economic and rights-based inequalities. Governments worldwide now assert digital sovereignty to safeguard critical infrastructures and protect national interests from cyber threats and economic exploitation.

Digital sovereignty claims are often intertwined with concerns about privacy, data ownership, and the concentration of power among a few multinational corporations. From a cybersecurity perspective, these concerns spur investments in securing digital infrastructures, which can sometimes lead to protective, and even aggressive, policies designed to “secure” national cyberspace.

2.3 Act III: A Neo-Mercantilist Turn

More recently, discussions in digital policy have begun to reveal a new narrative driven by geopolitical and economic competition. This neo-mercantilist approach uses digital sovereignty to:

• Reshape Global Digital Infrastructures: By promoting “local stacks” like the India Stack and Euro Stack.
• Securitize the Digital Space: By framing cross-border digital data flows as potential national security risks.
• Instrumentalize Sovereignty for Economic Gains: Adopting policies that aim to rebalance economic power in favor of domestic industries.

This turn can be seen in recent policy debates and actions, as countries impose data localization requirements and invest in indigenous technological solutions. As we continue, we will illustrate the technical dimensions of managing and securing a digital domain through practical cybersecurity applications.

3. Digital Sovereignty and Cybersecurity

In parallel with the evolution of sovereignty, cybersecurity has emerged as a vital domain where digital sovereignty is actively contested. Securing digital boundaries, monitoring network traffic, and mitigating cyber risks are crucial for any state that wishes to preserve its digital autonomy.

3.1 The Cybersecurity Landscape

Modern cybersecurity involves multi-layered strategies:

• Network Monitoring and Intrusion Detection: To identify potential attacks from foreign and domestic adversaries.
• Vulnerability Scanning: Automated techniques to discover weaknesses in digital infrastructures.
• Incident Response: Rapid measures to detect, contain, and remediate breaches.

To illustrate, consider a nation-state or large organization seeking to enforce digital sovereignty by protecting its digital borders. It must balance open internet principles with the need for robust security measures. This leads to the practical application of tools and techniques that help in monitoring and managing network traffic.

3.2 Practical Guidance: From Beginner to Advanced

Below, we detail practical techniques for vulnerability scanning and parsing the output using popular tools. These examples provide insights into maintaining cybersecurity in an era where digital sovereignty challenges are at the forefront.

3.2.1 Beginner-Level: Network Port Scanning Using Nmap

Nmap (Network Mapper) is a popular open-source tool for network exploration and security auditing. A basic command to scan an IP address for open ports is:

nmap -Pn 192.168.1.1

Explanation:

• -Pn: Tells Nmap not to ping the target before scanning.
• 192.168.1.1: Target IP address (change as necessary).

This command returns a list of open ports along with other useful information such as service versions and potential vulnerabilities.

3.2.2 Intermediate-Level: Parsing Nmap Output with Bash

Suppose you need to extract open ports from the Nmap output automatically. Here’s a simple Bash script example that uses grep and awk:

#!/bin/bash

# Run Nmap scan and store output
nmap_output=$(nmap -Pn 192.168.1.1)

# Extract lines with "open" ports and display the port numbers.
echo "$nmap_output" | grep "open" | awk '{print $1, $2, $3}'

Explanation:

• This script captures the Nmap output in a variable.
• It then filters the output for lines containing the word "open" (indicating open ports).
• Finally, it uses awk to print the port number, state, and protocol.

3.2.3 Advanced-Level: Parsing JSON Output Using Python

For more structured analysis of scanning outputs, consider using Python to parse JSON-formatted results from Nmap. With the Nmap Scripting Engine (NSE) and the -oX or -oJ option, you can store output in XML or JSON format. Below is an example of parsing JSON output:

First, run Nmap with JSON output:

nmap -Pn -oJ scan_results.json 192.168.1.1

Next, use the following Python script:

import json

def parse_nmap_json(file_path):
    with open(file_path, 'r') as file:
        data = json.load(file)
    
    # Iterate over each host in the scan results
    for host in data.get('host', []):
        address_info = host.get('address', {})
        ip_address = address_info.get('@addr', 'N/A')
        print(f"Scanning results for {ip_address}:")
        
        ports = host.get('ports', {}).get('port', [])
        if not ports:
            print("  No open ports found.")
        else:
            for port in ports:
                port_id = port.get('@portid', 'N/A')
                protocol = port.get('@protocol', 'N/A')
                state = port.get('state', {}).get('@state', 'N/A')
                service = port.get('service', {}).get('@name', 'N/A')
                print(f"  Port: {port_id}/{protocol} is {state} (Service: {service})")
        print("\n")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    parse_nmap_json("scan_results.json")

Explanation:

• The Python script loads the JSON file output from Nmap.
• It iterates through each host and extracts key details such as IP address, port number, protocol, state, and service.
• This structured approach is particularly useful for integrating into larger security dashboards or alerting systems.

4. Real-World Examples and Use Cases

Understanding the theory behind digital sovereignty is enhanced by examining real-world applications. Below are several case studies and examples demonstrating how digital sovereignty concerns manifest in practical cybersecurity and digital policy work.

4.1 Case Study 1: Data Localization and National Security

Background:
Countries like Russia, China, and members of the European Union have introduced data localization laws that require companies to store data within national borders. The intent is to protect citizens' data and maintain control over digital infrastructure.

Digital Sovereignty Angle:
Data localization is a classic expression of digital sovereignty, ensuring that governments can enforce their laws on domestic data and reduce dependency on foreign cloud providers. However, critics argue that such measures can fragment the global internet and raise operational costs for multinational corporations.

Cybersecurity Implications:

• Enhanced Monitoring: With data stored domestically, governments can more easily monitor and secure digital interactions.
• Resilience: Localized data centers may build more resilience against cross-border cyberattacks.

Example:
Consider a government implementing systems that monitor and analyze network traffic in real-time using custom dashboards pulling data from local sensors. These systems may leverage tools like Elasticsearch and Kibana combined with network scanner outputs for a comprehensive cybersecurity posture.

4.2 Case Study 2: Secure Digital Infrastructure in the EU

Background:
The European Union has taken significant steps toward promoting digital sovereignty through the Euro Stack. This initiative encourages the development of European alternatives to non-European cloud providers, aiming for greater control over critical data and services.

Digital Sovereignty Angle:
The shift towards a secured, locally governed digital infrastructure is both an economic and a cybersecurity measure. It reduces reliance on external vendors and aligns with broader geopolitical strategies.

Cybersecurity Implications:

• Reduced Exposure: Hosting sensitive data within a secure, regulated jurisdiction minimizes exposure to foreign surveillance.
• Integrated Crisis Response: An autonomous digital stack enables quicker, coordinated responses to cyber incidents.

Example:
In such cases, public and private sectors collaborate on secure scanning and monitoring projects. They may deploy automated systems that integrate Nmap, log analyzers, and machine learning models to predict potentially harmful network activities in near real-time.

4.3 Example: Automating Network Security Checks for Digital Sovereignty

Imagine a scenario where a digital sovereignty policy mandates continuous security assessments of critical infrastructure. An automated scanning system can be set up with periodic tasks using cron jobs on Linux servers, coupled with our previously mentioned Python parsing script to process the results.

Bash Script for Automation:

#!/bin/bash

# File: auto_scan.sh
TARGET="192.168.1.1"
OUTPUT_FILE="/var/log/nmap_scan.json"

# Run nmap scan with JSON output
nmap -Pn -oJ "$OUTPUT_FILE" $TARGET

# Trigger the Python script to parse and log the results
python3 /path/to/parse_nmap.py "$OUTPUT_FILE"

Setting Up a Cron Job:

0 * * * * /path/to/auto_scan.sh >> /var/log/auto_scan.log 2>&1

Explanation:

• The script runs a scan every hour.
• It outputs results in JSON format to a log file.
• A Python script processes the JSON file, extracting vulnerabilities and alerting system administrators if necessary.
• The cron job ensures the process is automated and can be integrated into a broader digital sovereignty framework of continuous monitoring and response.

5. Advanced Applications: Machine Learning and Threat Intelligence

As digital sovereignty and cybersecurity challenges evolve, advanced solutions leveraging machine learning (ML) are coming to the forefront. These advanced systems analyze vast amounts of network data to identify anomalous behavior and potential threats.

5.1 Integrating ML with Traditional Security Tools

Traditional network scanning and monitoring tools provide static snapshots of network health. By integrating ML models, organizations can achieve:

• Anomaly Detection: Identify subtle deviations from normal network behavior that might indicate emerging threats.
• Predictive Analysis: Forecast future vulnerabilities or cyber incidents based on historical data.
• Automated Incident Response: Trigger automatic remediation actions based on ML insights.

For instance, an ML model might be trained on historical Nmap scans and log data. The output features—such as port openness, service changes, or unusual scan patterns—serve as inputs to an algorithm that categorizes network behavior accordingly.

5.2 Example: Basic Anomaly Detection with Python

The following is an example of using Python and a simple ML algorithm (e.g., Isolation Forest) to detect network anomalies. This example assumes that you have a dataset containing Nmap scan features.

First, install the required libraries:

pip install numpy pandas scikit-learn matplotlib

Next, create a sample Python script:

import pandas as pd
import numpy as np
from sklearn.ensemble import IsolationForest
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

# Assume we have a CSV file with Nmap scan features
df = pd.read_csv('nmap_scan_features.csv')

# For demonstration, assume the dataset contains:
# 'port_count' (number of open ports), 'service_variance', etc.
features = df[['port_count', 'service_variance']]

# Train the Isolation Forest model
iso_forest = IsolationForest(contamination=0.1, random_state=42)
df['anomaly_score'] = iso_forest.fit_predict(features)

# Mark anomalies (typically labeled as -1)
anomalies = df[df['anomaly_score'] == -1]
print("Detected anomalies:")
print(anomalies)

# Visualize the results
plt.scatter(df['port_count'], df['service_variance'], c=df['anomaly_score'], cmap='coolwarm')
plt.xlabel('Number of Open Ports')
plt.ylabel('Service Variance')
plt.title('Anomaly Detection on Nmap Scan Data')
plt.show()

Explanation:

• The script reads in Nmap scan data containing features like the number of open ports and a computed service variance.
• It fits an Isolation Forest model to identify outliers, labeling unusual scan results as anomalies.
• Visualization helps in understanding the distribution and clustering of normal versus anomalous network behavior.

5.3 Benefits and Future Directions

Integrating these advanced techniques can significantly improve digital sovereignty efforts by ensuring that while states aim to preserve national control over digital assets, they remain agile in responding to evolving threats. The use of open-source tools and standard cybersecurity frameworks coupled with machine learning provides a layered defense that adapts as global digital policies and threats change.

6. The Broader Impact on the Open Internet

The discussions on digital sovereignty also raise questions about the future of the open internet. Will policies aiming for sovereign digital spaces create silos that hinder global collaboration and innovation? In part 2 of this series, we will explore how securitizing narratives and neo-mercantilist policies might fragment the internet—potentially leading to a multi-layered, regionally controlled digital ecosystem.

6.1 Balancing Security and Openness

Digital sovereignty does not necessarily mean isolation. Many of the advanced techniques illustrated above demonstrate that it is possible to secure networks while still participating in the global digital economy. The challenge for policymakers and cybersecurity professionals is to strike a balance:

• Robust Security Measures: Implementing policies and technical measures that guard against cyber threats.
• Open Interoperability: Maintaining inter-national cooperation, innovation, and free data flows where possible.

6.2 The Road Ahead

As nations increasingly adopt digital sovereignty as a guiding principle, we can expect:

• More Investments in Domestic Technology: Building local alternatives to global digital infrastructures.
• Heightened Cybersecurity Collaboration: Even as countries assert sovereignty, the necessity of cross-border intelligence-sharing and threat monitoring remains.
• Evolving Legal Frameworks: Laws and regulations will continue to evolve to address the complexities of digital sovereignty and data flows.

7. Conclusion

Digital sovereignty sits at the intersection of state power, technological advancement, and cybersecurity. From its historical roots in the principles of territorial integrity and non-interference to its modern manifestation in controlling data flows and network security, digital sovereignty represents both a challenge and an opportunity.

This first part of our series has unpacked the political economy of digital sovereignty and provided practical examples—from basic Nmap scans to advanced machine learning applications—that illustrate how cybersecurity practices can help enforce national digital autonomy. As you continue your exploration of digital policy and cybersecurity, keep in mind that the quest for sovereignty is not about isolation, but about ensuring that each state retains the capacity to safeguard its digital future.

In the next installment, we will delve deeper into how digital sovereignty interfaces with global openness, the risk of internet fragmentation, and policy measures that may redefine governance in the digital age.

References

1. Diplo Foundation – Explore more on global digital policies and diplomacy.
2. Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) – Learn about digital governance initiatives.
3. Nmap Official Website – Download and documentation for Nmap, a powerful network scanning tool.
4. Scikit-learn Documentation – Reference for machine learning modules in Python.
5. European Commission – Digital Single Market – Policy framework on digital sovereignty and data localization in the EU.
6. Data Localization and Cybersecurity Reports – In-depth analyses on data sovereignty and global digital policy.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we will explore digital sovereignty’s implications on the open internet and discuss potential frameworks for maintaining interoperability while safeguarding national interests.

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