Sovereignty in a Postdigital World
摘要
Mobile technology accelerated the digitization of our lives. Postdigital theory recognizes that most of our daily activities are currently mediated through digital interfaces. Embedded in networks, we are obligated to surrender our privacy and rights just to complete basic transactions, such as paying a bill, checking a bus schedule, or submitting homework. This loss of sovereignty happens at an individual, institutional, and state level. Reevaluating ownership provides a chance to reimagine our control over our lives and institutions. This chapter addresses current concerns with sovereignty and explores how an evolved form of ownership can provide a pathway forward. Reclaiming sovereignty requires regaining control over not just products, but also tools of intellectual production. This chapter explores how unlocking the pedagogical tools from corporate ownership offers alternative models organized around access limitations. Sovereignty is understood as having agency over how our digital tools are accessed, used, and updated. An evolved form of ownership over the digital tools that run our institutions, manage our social services, and enable education, is essential for establishing sovereignty over our digital personas, as well as the digital identity of the communities we live in.