The EU’s Digital Sovereignty - The role of Artificial Intelligence and Competition Policy

Abstract

Who gets to shape the future? This paper presents how the concept of ‘digital sovereignty’ arises as a response to this question while the transition into the digital age advances at pace. It subsequently focuses on the concept of ‘EU digital sovereignty’, which despite lacking a clear and precise definition, is evaluated through its three dimensions (1) EU and other states; (2) EU and non-state actors, in particular, Big Tech players and (3) EU citizens and the digital world. While the EU is yet to present reliable ways to measure its progress towards this goal, this paper argues that Artificial Intelligence and Competition Policy can be, and indeed already are, used to pursue the overarching goal of digital sovereignty. As the three key characteristics of EU digital sovereignty are autonomy, ability to influence, and protection of EU citizens’ self-determination online, an analysis of how legislative proposals in these fields, together with other acts of EU institutions and competition decisions, have and could continue to be used for these purposes