Data sovereignty is one aspect of digital sovereignty.

Data sovereignty formulates what needs to be done in relation to data in order for the state to be or become sovereign (see our publications on digital sovereignty). The legal anchor concept that guides the state's efforts is control. This is not just a question of whether we can prohibit others from using our data, but also of whether data can be used in a self-determined manner. This raises the question of which community in a highly networked world should be allowed to exercise control over which aspects and with which instruments.

Based on its research, the Swiss Data Alliance determined that the debate must first resolve the issue of international jurisdiction and then address how the state should proceed within the scope of its international responsibilities in order to achieve its policy objectives (positively formulated target expectations) on the one hand and to protect itself against interference from other actors (negatively formulated target expectations) on the other. These three requirements for the discussion lead to three categories of thought that will help to structure the discussion.