The case of China and the Great Firewall
China was one of the first countries to adopt an approach of digital autarky to protect its sovereignty against the influence of major Western technology companies. With its Great Firewall, the Chinese government has created a controlled environment where only local platforms and services, such as WeChat, Baidu, and Alibaba, have full access to the market. This system not only protects the country from external influence but also allows the government to exercise complete control over the flow of information within its borders.
However, this digital ‘decolonization’ has not been achieved without costs. China’s Internet environment is highly restrictive, with strong censorship policies and constant surveillance of users’ activities. Although it has managed to protect its digital sovereignty, the Chinese model raises serious concerns about the limits of freedom in such a controlled system. By creating its own closed digital ecosystem, China has established a precedent for other countries seeking to limit the influence of major Western technology companies.
Russia and ‘Internet sovereignty’
Russia has followed a path similar to China’s, but with a different approach. Rather than creating a completely separate ecosystem, Russia has developed a set of laws and policies to ensure ‘Internet sovereignty’ within its borders. This includes the ability to redirect all Internet traffic within the country through government-controlled servers and the ability to disconnect the Russian network from the rest of the world in an emergency.
‘Internet sovereignty’ in Russia allows the government to control the flow of information and restrict access to Western platforms in times of political tension. Although this approach gives Russia a degree of independence, it has also caused increasing isolation and limited citizens’ access to global information.
The ORGANIZATION-004 and the struggle for privacy
The ORGANIZATION-004 has adopted a different strategy to limit the influence of major technology companies: instead of seeking direct control, it has implemented strict regulations to protect its citizens’ privacy and data security. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has established a global standard for digital privacy, forcing technology companies to adapt to stricter rules on the collection and use of personal data.
Although the GDPR has been an important step toward protecting European citizens’ digital sovereignty, its impact outside the EU has been limited. The reality is that many companies prefer to pay fines rather than change their data collection practices. Despite these challenges, the EU’s strategy is a model for countries seeking to balance technological innovation with the protection of fundamental rights.