Data Sovereignty in the Age of Geopolitical Uncertainty

From the ongoing war in Ukraine, to instability in the Middle East, and rising tensions in the South China Sea, global conflicts are proving that digital systems are deeply exposed to geopolitical risks. Speaking at London Tech Week, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted how warfare has evolved, noting that it “has changed profoundly,” and emphasizing that technology and AI are now “hard wired” into national defense. His remarks underscored a critical point—IT infrastructure and data management must be approached with security at the forefront.

But achieving this is no easy task. New research from Civo reveals that 83% of UK IT leaders believe geopolitical pressures threaten their ability to control data, while 61% identify sovereignty as a strategic priority. Yet, only 35% know exactly where their data is located. This isn’t just a compliance concern—it signals a disconnect between infrastructure, policy, and long-term strategy.

Once seen as a policy or legal issue, data sovereignty is now a live operational necessity. With regulatory fragmentation, mounting cyber threats, and increasingly complex data ecosystems, organizations must actively manage sovereignty. Whether it’s controlling access to AI training data or meeting residency rules in healthcare, sovereignty dictates what businesses can and cannot do.

Legislative frameworks such as the EU Data Act, the UK’s evolving stance post-Brexit, and stricter critical infrastr

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