Submarine Cables and the Risks to Digital Sovereignty

Minds and Machines, volume 34, issue 3, 2024[10.1007/s11023-024-09683-z ]

30 Pages Posted: 25 Jan 2024 Last revised: 4 Dec 2024

See all articles by Abra Ganz

Abra Ganz

Yale University

Martina Camellini

Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna

Emmie Hine

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center; University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies; KU Leuven - Centre for IT & IP Law (CiTiP)

Claudio Novelli

University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies; Yale University - Digital Ethics Center

Huw Roberts

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute

Luciano Floridi

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center; University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies

Date Written: January 12, 2024

Abstract

The international network of submarine cables plays a crucial role in facilitating global telecommunications connectivity, carrying over 99% of all internet traffic. However, submarine cables challenge digital sovereignty due to their ownership structure, cross-jurisdictional nature, and vulnerabilities to malicious actors. In this article, we assess these challenges, current policy initiatives designed to mitigate them, and the limitations of these initiatives. The nature of submarine cables curtails a state's ability to regulate the infrastructure on which it relies, reduces its data security, and threatens its ability to provide telecommunication services. States currently address these challenges through regulatory controls over submarine cables and associated companies, investing in the development of additional cable infrastructure, and implementing physical protection measures for the cables themselves. Despite these efforts, the effectiveness of current mechanisms is hindered by significant obstacles arising from technical limitations and a lack of international coordination on regulation. We conclude by noting how these obstacles lead to gaps in states' policies and point towards how they could be improved to create a proactive approach to submarine cable governance that defends states' digital sovereignty.

Keywords: Digital Sovereignty, Internet, Submarine Cables, Surveillance, Critical Infrastructure

Suggested Citation

Ganz, Abra and Camellini, Martina and Hine, Emmie and Novelli, Claudio and Roberts, Huw and Floridi, Luciano, Submarine Cables and the Risks to Digital Sovereignty (January 12, 2024). Minds and Machines, volume 34, issue 3, 2024[10.1007/s11023-024-09683-z ], Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4693206 or http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11023-024-09683-z

Abra Ganz (Contact Author)

Yale University ( email )

493 College St
New Haven, CT CT 06520
United States

Martina Camellini

Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna ( email )

Bologna
Italy

Emmie Hine

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center ( email )

85, Trumbull Street
New Haven, CT 06511
United States

University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies ( email )

Via Zamboni 22
Bologna, Bo 40100
Italy

KU Leuven - Centre for IT & IP Law (CiTiP) ( email )

Sint-Michielsstraat 6 box 3443
Leuven, 3000
Belgium

Claudio Novelli

University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies ( email )

Via Zamboni 22
Bologna, Bo 40100
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://https://dsg.unibo.it/en

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center ( email )

85, Trumbull Street
New Haven, CT 06511
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://dec.yale.edu

Huw Roberts

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute ( email )

1 St. Giles
University of Oxford
Oxford OX1 3PG Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire OX1 3JS
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://https://digitalethicslab.oii.ox.ac.uk/huw-roberts/

Luciano Floridi

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center ( email )

85 Trumbull Street
New Haven, CT CT 06511
United States
2034326473 (Phone)

University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies ( email )

Via Zamboni 22
Bologna, Bo 40100
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/luciano.floridi/en

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