Southeast Asia’s Quest for Digital Sovereignty
Data is the oil of the 21st century, and Southeast Asia risks pumping its reserves into foreign tanks. The need for the region to develop its own technological infrastructure has never been more pressing.
With nearly 700 million people and rapidly growing economies, Southeast Asia has become a pivotal region in the global geopolitical landscape. The technological revolution sweeping across its diverse nations is reshaping traditional industries and governance structures at an unprecedented pace. As digital innovation accelerates, Southeast Asian countries are strategically positioning themselves to maintain sovereignty over their technological futures while fostering vibrant innovation ecosystems amid intensifying global tech rivalries amongst states and their respective firms. At a time when a multipolar world order is characterized by intensifying strategic competition and fluid geopolitical realignments, the imperative for the region to develop autonomous technological infrastructure and digital sovereignty has never been more critical.
Vishal Rana and Govand Khalid Azeez
