Large cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud dominate the industry, but their scale does not equate to sovereignty for users, leading to trade-offs in control and privacy.
GDPR fines totaling billions have been issued showing a disregard for user consent, with penalties increasing for privacy violations in centralized data handling by tech giants.
Data breaches in cloud environments have been on the rise, with a high percentage involving misconfigurations, unauthorized access, and vendor vulnerabilities.
Concerns over data sovereignty have led to the introduction of legislation in over 140 countries, with initiatives like France's 'Cloud de confiance' label and Germany's restrictions on Microsoft 365.
The EU and other nations are taking steps to protect sensitive data from extraterritorial laws, such as the US CLOUD Act, highlighting the importance of digital sovereignty in critical infrastructure.
Australia and Sweden have also faced challenges with US cloud services due to data transfer issues and legal conflicts, prompting discussions on the need for national regulatory frameworks.
Centralized control introduces risks and accountability gaps, undermining public trust and highlighting the limitations of current cloud governance structures.
Efforts like Gaia-X and EuroStack aim to offer European alternatives that prioritize privacy, interoperability, and reduced reliance on American hyperscalers, signaling a shift towards more sustainable and transparent cloud solutions.
In response to customer demands for better pricing and transparency, some providers are offering reduced egress fees and clearer billing models, signaling a growing awareness of the need for change in the industry.
Building a digital future that prioritizes autonomy, privacy, and sustainability requires rethinking infrastructure and data governance practices to empower users and reduce dependency on centralized cloud services.
Sovereignty in data management comes from decentralized, secure solutions like Hivenet, which offer encryption, distributed storage, and reduced carbon footprint while giving users full control over their data access.