Reflections of Sovereignty in Policy and Technology: A Socio-Technical Analysis of Decentralized Digital Identities

The ubiquitous datafication of our lives is leading to a paradigm shift in which information about our human existence is being quantified and integrated into the fabric of our digital society. Governance mechanisms of said datafication became the subject of a contemporary understanding of sovereignty that, so far, has only narrowly been covered by academic research. The first dynamic is reflected in the entrenchment of ‘digital sovereignty’ in the context of supranational policymaking in Europe. Digital sovereignty is a macro-level reaction to the growing power of data processing entities, like multinational technology companies and governments. The second dynamic is related to the emerging concept of ‘self-sovereignty’. It can be understood as a micro-level reaction to the pervasive datafication of our time. Self-sovereignty ought to symbolize a ‘user-centric’ philosophy and the empowerment of users by conferring them data ‘ownership’ and control, particularly in the field of digital identity management. This cumulative thesis investigates how digital sovereignty and self-sovereignty are reflected in policy and technology respectively. It does so by scrutinizing the reflections of sovereignty critically through a constructivist analysis, followed by systematic methodological approaches within Information Systems research, notably design science research. It will provide plausible solutions for the identified problems, facilitating a seamless transition from abstract concepts to practical applications. In a synthesis of the insights obtained, the thesis juxtaposes self-sovereignty in the practical context of value-driven government. It will extrapolate crucial conflicts that practitioners and policy-makers need to consider when pursuing sovereignty-oriented ideals. The overall aim of this thesis is to provide a holistic guidance on digital sovereignty and self-sovereignty, and to offer scientific insights, cautions and recommendations for the practical implementations led by policy-makers, researchers and practitioners.