Towards a Digitally Sovereign Internet: An Architectural Proposal for a Secure-by-Design System

The Internet has emerged as a transformative force, enabling individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate and share information. With the increasing reliance on the Internet for social interactions and global business transactions, there is a growing need to address the security and management of the vast amount of data and resources shared online. This proposal explores the evolving landscape of data governance within the Internet ecosystem, particularly in relation to the authority over digital resources shared by populations and states. Moreover, the escalating societal dependence on digital technology necessitates an Internet ecosystem that can accommodate future advancements while preserving digital autonomy. This proposal acknowledges the pressing issues and aims to develop an architecture for a novel secure-by-design system called “Digitally Sovereign” Internet. By investigating the existing market dynamics and incentives, we analyze the strategic advantages a Controllable, Accountable, and Transparent Internet ecosystem can offer businesses. Additionally, this proposal explores potential business models that can enable organizations to leverage the benefits of a Responsible Internet ecosystem, fostering sustainable inter-networking for all stakeholders. By emphasizing controllability, accountability, and transparency, this research seeks to establish a foundation for a more robust and reliable Internet infrastructure that safeguards shared assets. The envisioned Digitally Sovereign Internet aims to create an environment where businesses can thrive while ensuring the protection and responsible management of digital resources.