Governing dataspace through intersubjectivity: from exclusive control to interactive data sovereignty

What the paper says

Purpose This paper aims to advance an original intersubjective framework for data sovereignty governance. Grounded in constructivist concepts of shared understanding and critical realist principles of structure and agency, it moves beyond state-centric models to develop the concept of “interactive data sovereignty.” The study thereby offers a more robust theoretical and practical pathway for rebalancing power among states, platforms and individuals, contributing to a more equitable and effective global data governance. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a conceptual-theoretical methodology rooted in intersubjective and structural analysis. The approach reconstructs data sovereignty through an intersubjective lens, shifting it from a state-centric attribute to a relational status formed through multi-actor communication. It then integrates this perspective with a structural analysis of how power embeds within data architectures. The synthesis of these two lenses directly informs the interactive data sovereignty framework, deriving its core principles – interactivity, relativity and justice – and positioning data architecture as the central governance object. Findings This study reveals that governance of data architecture fundamentally shapes power relations in dataspace. The proposed model of interactive data sovereignty demonstrates how participatory mechanisms can rebalance asymmetric relationships, with multilateral institutionalized consultations emerging as the most effective approach for reconciling data circulation and protection imperatives. This framework successfully bridges theoretical insights with practical governance solutions. Originality/value This study pioneers the integration of intersubjectivity theory with data sovereignty, proposing the novel concept of interactive data sovereignty. It innovatively identifies data architecture as the core governance object and develops participatory architecture as practical solution, offering new theoretical frameworks for rebalancing digital power disparities.