SURF Security & Privacy Conference 2026

2026-06-26 15:15–15:45, Plenary room (1B.10) Language: English

European digital sovereignty initiatives focus on reducing dependence on US companies by creating European alternatives and through data localisation. This approach overlooks a fundamental problem: network externalities create continued US dominance even under European ownership. In this talk, Niels compares Russia’s isolationist network sovereignty, China’s government-directed standardization, and argues for a distinctly European approach. This approach is rooted in developing an alternative technological trajectory by designing open architectures that distribute power and embed European values: democratic governance, environmental sustainability, privacy, and social inclusion.