Report

Sovereignty by design: security, resilence, and growth

This report from UK think tank Re:State argues for an approach to sovereignty that imposes security and privacy requirements on systems based on the sensitivity of the systems.

There are two growing challenges in British technology policy: 1) intricate global supply chains underpin the creation of devices that run the modern economy, and 2) geopolitical instability risks disruption to these supply chains. These challenges have prompted some lawmakers and policy experts to argue for ‘digital sovereignty’ to protect critical British technology from external geopolitical shocks.

But ‘digital sovereignty’ lacks a universal or agreed upon definition. Most discussions of the issue focus on nation state control and regulation of significant portions of digital assets and infrastructure in a way that preserves security, resilience, and economic independence. But these are complex trade-offs for policymakers to navigate, and the arguments are often incoherent.

Sovereignty by design: security, resilience, and growth acknowledges that neither full sovereignty in which the UK controls all aspects of digital infrastructure nor an approach in which the UK is completely reliant on foreign technology are realistic. It argues for an approach to sovereignty that imposes security and privacy requirements on systems based on the sensitivity of the systems.

It also argues for planning reforms that would make it easier for private companies to build data centres that are increasingly critical for the modern economy.