Presented by Eduard Itrich (OSB Alliance- Bundesverband für digitale
Souveränität e.V.) and Felix Kronlage-Dammers (Product Owner @ SCS) at EclipseCon 2022.
Hardly any other term has been redefined and reframed so frequently in public discussions in recent years as “digital sovereignty”. Interpretations range from using Open Source Software down to local franchise agreements with proprietary cloud providers applying the term as a boilerplate.
This talk will demystify the term “digital sovereignty” and outline why it is
not just enough to be sovereign on a higher container layer or create local spin-offs from proprietary cloud service providers. Together we will look at different criteria for digital sovereignty and realize that closed-source “sovereign” cloud offerings may not bring as much sovereignty as promised.
Open infrastructure matters and is key to independence, trust and innovation. In order to achieve true digital sovereignty, we need open source, operating knowledge and vital open communities.
What should attendees expect to learn?
We will develop a well-defined taxonomy to better classify the various "sovereign" cloud offerings. Participants will learn to confidently participate in public discussions and how to demystify the frequently misused term digital sovereignty. Together, we recap the key principles of the Four Freedoms and learn how they create true digital sovereignty for government, industry, research, and society.
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