Our mission
Digital Self-Determination seeks to empower individuals and communities to decide how their data is managed in ways that benefit themselves and society. Translating this principle into practice requires an international network that brings together diverse perspectives and expertise. Our network connects different actors from around the world to consider how to apply Digital Self-Determination in real-life settings to inform both theory and practice
Read the concept noteOur main objectives are the following:
- Inform policy development;
- Accelerate the creation of new DSD processes and technologies;
- Estabilish new professions that can help implement DSD (such as data stewards);
- Contribute to the regulatory and policy debate;
- Raise awareness and build bridges between the public and private sector and data subjects.
Moving from Principle to Practice
The International Network on Digital Self-Determination is spearheading the transition from principles to practice in various contexts. To achieve this, the network has developed a work plan focused on transforming DSD from a mere principle to actionable strategies. This plan is centered around three primary fields of action:
Action Field 1
Designing and clarifying DSD
Theory formation: conceptualizing and deepening the notion of self-determination, both digital and non-digital
Foundational framework for DSD: working towards establishing common understanding and an action-oriented framework for building new DSD processes, policies, professions and infrastructures
Action Field 2
Implementing and operationalizing DSD
Use cases: operationalizing the concept of DSD by illustrating its meaning and value in our everyday life with concrete examples
Prototyping solutions: experimenting new processes, policies and technologies that can generate a social license for data re-use and can enable DSD
Training new professions: developing a new curriculum and training program for data stewards and other professions that can enable DSD
Developing international guidelines: developing a set of principles to assist data space operators to establish and run trustworthy dataspaces
Formulating pathways to practice: stakeholders need to be provided with action plans that enable the application of DSD to be driven by motivations that are clearly stated, have good grounding, and measurable outcomes
Action Field 3
Communicating and advocating DSD
Dialogue on DSD: facilitating conversations that will inform future policy discussions on how to create trustworthy data spaces and entice responsible innovation
Representation and capacity building: engaging in international capacity-building efforts aimed at knowledge-building and skill-sharing among diverse actors across the world
Reflection on DSD contextual applications: identifying the commonalities and differences of the use-case experiences, guidelines and the pathways to practice, to inform the critical development of DSD as a global regulatory and governance frame
Core team
Who Are We
The network comprises leading experts from academia, public and private sector committed to understanding the potential of Digital Self-Determination.
Core Partners
Deputy Head of Section, Directorate of International Law, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Legal Officer, Directorate of International Law, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
KAS Professorial Research Fellow, Honorary Senior Research Fellow (British Institute of International and Comparative Law)
Research Fellow, The GovLab, New York University
Deputy Director, Directorate of International Law, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Co-Founder and Chief Research and Development Officer, The GovLab, New York University
Project Partners
Executive Director, Point of View
Lecturer and Research Fellow, Strathmore University
Managing Director, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University
Executive Director, Institute for Technology and Society
Director, Centre for AI & Data Governance, Singapore Management University
CEO and Consul General at Swissnex in India, Consulate General of Switzerland
Research Assistant, PhD Candidate, TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of Munich
Director of Youth and Media, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Harvard University
Dean and Professor of Public Policy, Governance, and Innovative Technology, TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of Munich
Research Assistant, Centre for AI & Data Governance, Singapore Management University