EU Sovereignty

Why European Digital Sovereignty Matters

Europe’s public discourse increasingly happens on platforms controlled by foreign corporations. These platforms operate under different legal frameworks, different cultural assumptions, and different incentives than European society.

When critical infrastructure is controlled elsewhere, Europeans lose agency over their own digital commons. Policy decisions made in Silicon Valley affect European democracy, but Europeans have no say in those decisions.

The Sovereignty Case for Cooperatives

A European cooperative offers structural protections that no corporate platform can match:

Legal Domicile

Incorporated under European law, subject to European courts, operating within the European regulatory framework. No ambiguity about which rules apply.

Data Residency

User data stays in Europe, processed under GDPR protections, without risk of foreign government access through mechanisms like the CLOUD Act.

Democratic Accountability

European members govern the platform. Decisions reflect European values and priorities, not the preferences of foreign shareholders.

Economic Benefit

Revenue stays in Europe, supporting European jobs and contributing to European economies rather than flowing to foreign investors.

Beyond Regulation

The EU has strong digital regulations—GDPR, the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act. But regulation alone can’t create alternatives. You can’t regulate your way to sovereignty if all the platforms are still controlled elsewhere.

Building European-owned infrastructure is the complement to regulation. It’s not about protectionism; it’s about having genuine choices and genuine control.

A Model for Others

What we build in Europe can serve as a model for other regions seeking digital self-determination. The cooperative structure is portable. The principles are universal. By proving it works here, we open possibilities everywhere.