The other face of imperialism

data control and digital sovereignty

Abstract

This article investigates the transformations in power dynamics driven by the rise of digital media, with an emphasis on the emergence of informational capitalism and surveillance capitalism. Drawing on the contributions of authors such as Byung-Chul Han, Shoshana Zuboff, and Andrew Korybko, it analyzes how digital technologies, although often presented as neutral, operate within structures shaped by economic, political, and geopolitical interests. The role of Big Tech companies in controlling global digital infrastructures and in the massive capture of data is highlighted as a central mechanism of domination, reshaping sovereignty in the 21st century. The concept of "data sovereignty" is explored as a key category for understanding power in the digital age, within an international context marked by imperialist dynamics. In this scenario, so-called hybrid wars — covert conflicts that use social media and informational manipulation — reveal the vulnerability of national sovereignties. The article argues for the urgent need to formulate public policies capable of protecting countries’ informational sovereignty, recognizing data as a strategic resource of geopolitical relevance. By mapping the contemporary mechanisms of digital control and influence, the study seeks to contribute to the debate on technological autonomy.