Challenging Data Sovereignty in the Global AI Economy Era
The greatest threat may not be when citizens’ data is stolen, but when digital dependency is accepted as normal and no longer questioned.
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Major changes rarely arrive with easily recognisable signs. They grow slowly, seeping into daily routines before quietly altering how societies work, shop, communicate, and even make decisions.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved in this manner. Initially, AI emerged as a symbol of technological progress that simplifies human life. Work became faster, services more convenient, and digital activities nearly seamless.
Yet behind this convenience lies a far greater struggle for influence beyond mere technological innovation.
What is at stake is not just who has the most advanced applications, but who controls data, computing infrastructure, and the ability to shape the global digital economy.
Therefore, discussions on AI can no longer be confined to future technology issues. They have shifted to a global political economy matter concerning power distribution, industrial influence, and national sovereignty.
Amid this acceleration, the world lacks robust and binding global AI governance. International discussions remain focused on ethical principles and normative guidelines, while technological advancements outpace regulatory capabilities. The result is fragmentation, not uniformity.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), via its OECD.AI Policy Navigator in 2025, recorded over 1,300 AI policy initiatives from more than 80 jurisdictions and international organisations. This shows the world is not moving towards unified governance but towards increasingly fragmented regulations aligned with national interests.
Global powers are now competing to secure strategic positions. The competition has shifted from visible application layers to foundational elements such as semiconductor chip control, data centres, and large-scale computing capacity.
The OECD even describes AI computing capacity as a new foundation for digital competitiveness and national economic growth. This reveals that control over computing extends beyond technology to influence innovation, investment, and global economic power.
It is no surprise that competition over semiconductor supply chains, export restrictions on advanced chips, and control of cloud computing services is becoming increasingly aggressive. AI is slowly transforming from an innovation tool into a strategic instrument directly tied to power.