data sovereignty

In a CNBC interview, Sir Nick Clegg cautioned against the growing entanglement of technology and politics, advocating for a “respectful distance” to prevent stifling innovation and eroding public trust. He highlighted the complexities of data security and algorithmic control, using the U.S. government’s approach to TikTok as an example. Clegg warned against data localization trends and the potential balkanization of the internet, emphasizing the U.S.-China relationship as a key risk. He stressed the need for international cooperation to preserve the open and interconnected nature of the internet.

SAP will invest €20 billion over the next decade to expand its sovereign cloud infrastructure in Europe, including IaaS and on-premise options. This initiative aims to address data sovereignty concerns and GDPR compliance by ensuring customer data remains within the EU. The move positions SAP to compete with Microsoft and Amazon while aligning with the European Commission’s focus on technological sovereignty and AI development. SAP is also involved in the EU’s “AI gigafactory” initiative.

DeepSeek, a Beijing-based AGI startup, announced plans to open-source five production-grade code repositories, including training frameworks and inference engines, positioning itself as a transparent alternative to Silicon Valley secrecy. Despite its rapid growth—offering GPT-4-level tools freely while monetizing enterprise APIs—the company faces scrutiny over data ties to Chinese state-linked entities, U.S. procurement bans, and IP disputes. Analysts debate whether its “daily unlocks” strategy truly fosters open collaboration or disguises proprietary advantages, as geopolitical tensions intensify in the west-east AI rivalry.