Does FOSS Buy Sovereignty? Participation vs. Ownership

Digital sovereignty has become central to EU technology policy, with FOSS frequently positioned as a solution to dependencies on foreign proprietary systems. But simply deploying open source software does not automatically deliver sovereignty. This talk examines what actually confers digital sovereignty: license freedoms, or something more demanding, like sustained participation in development communities, institutional knowledge, and capacity to shape technological trajectories.

FOSS Backstage 2026, Berlin, Germany

The critical distinction is between passive adoption (downloading and deploying FOSS) and active engagement (contributing code, influencing governance, operating critical infrastructure). Analysis of different national strategies reveals a counter-intuitive finding: copyright ownership matters less than developmental participation.

More provocatively, certain forms of international collaboration enhance rather than compromise strategic autonomy, a concept this talk frames as “interdependent autonomy.” Participation in global FOSS communities can strengthen rather than weaken national capabilities.