Sovereignty in the Digital and Contact Tracing Apps

Abstract

Recently, the concept of sovereignty in the digital has attracted much attention. Several publications dealing with this concept assume that it can best be described as a network of different, overlapping exercises of power. Nevertheless, there is a need for further research on how exactly sovereignty in the digital can be understood. In order to contribute to a better understanding of this concept, I illustrate its complex structure using contact tracing apps as a paradigmatic example. I conduct a narrative review to show what sovereignty looks like in the context of these apps. In the context of digital contact tracing apps, sovereignty is best understood as a complex network of three actors—nations, (big tech) companies, and individuals—that exercise various forms of power against or on behalf of each other to claim sovereignty for themselves and to either weaken or strengthen the sovereignty claims of other actors. Since large parts of the results can be generalized from the particular context of contact tracing apps, they contribute to a better overall understanding of the concept of sovereignty in digital. This might, in turn, be helpful for discussions about this technology as well as about the regulation and governance of the digital in general.

Social imaginaries of digital technology in South Korea during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…The stronger the national borders and sense of belonging, the greater the marginalization of those in between borders and on the margin. Empirical studies have revealed the exclusion and stigmatization of marginal groups, such as non‐citizens and those who do not conform to national regulations during the pandemic crisis (James & Valluvan, 2020; Kloet et al, 2020; Orgad & Hegde, 2022; Tretter, 2023). According to these studies, the COVID‐19 pandemic resulted in the resurgence of nationalist sentiments, reinforcing the binary opposition of the nationally defined “us” versus “others” (Jasanoff et al, 2021).…”

Smartphone Apps for Containing the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Qualitative Interview Study With Experts Based on Grounded Theory

“…Similar approaches have recently been examined in the context of the international deployment of DCT apps [23]. Following Floridi [22], Tretter [24] illustrates that this network is determined by 3 actors: the governments, each of which develops its own DCT app while establishing individual standards for data storage and digital surveillance; the tech companies, such as Google and Apple, which provide, but can also withdraw, the digital infrastructure to implement these apps and thus essentially have access to the data generated through smartphones; and the individuals who are at the core of DCT and whose behavior forms the basis for digital pandemic response.…”