Digital infrastructure sovereignty

The Swedish government's Digital Strategy (2017) outlines plans to use digital technology to create a sustainable society, but digitalization and datafication of economic, political, and social processes widely rely on resources of private companies whose commercial priorities may not align with universal values.

This project aims to analyze how the digital media infrastructure affects the distribution of power in Swedish society, using a combination of political economy, institutional theory, science and technology studies, and media industries perspectives. The multi-method project will include document analysis, network analysis, interviews, case studies, and ethnography.

Among the deliveries are a digital infrastructure map, guidelines for inclusion, diversity measures of media platforms, and recommendations for a media policy that supports citizens' communicative rights.

Participants from Karlstad University

• Cornelia Brantner (PI)
• Raul Ferrer Conill
• Michael Karlsson
• Elizabeth van Couvering

Partner

• Helle Sjøvaag, University of Stavanger

Funding

The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) 2022-05392

Duration

2023-2026