Can Europe build digital sovereignty?

Can Europe build digital sovereignty?

From The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

April 30, 2026 · 28 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the concept of digital sovereignty in Europe and the challenges posed by US tech dependency amidst the AI revolution.

Ask Claude a question, Google a query, order from Amazon, chat with mates on WhatsApp, tune in to Youtube. And where ever you do it from, you’ll never be somehow not in America. Because Britain, like Europe is dependent on US tech and as the AI revolution unfolds, governments are increasingly worried about it. The new buzz phrase is digital sovereignty. But what does that mean? Is it even feasible? And can the UK and the Europe take back control? David Aaronovitch talks to: Stanley Pignal, Europe editor at The Economist Cecilia Rikap, Associate Professor in Economics and Head of Research at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose Seb Johnson, founder of Scaling Europe, a media company focused on European Tech Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Ben Carter, Sally Abrahams, Kirsteen Knight Production Co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman Sound engineer: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

People in this episode

Host: David Aaronovitch

Guests: Stanley Pignal, Cecilia Rikap, Seb Johnson

Topics covered

  • digital sovereignty
  • US tech dependency
  • AI revolution
  • European tech
  • government control

Keywords

  • digital sovereignty
  • US tech
  • AI revolution
  • European control
  • government concerns

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Economist, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, Scaling Europe

Places: Britain, Europe, America

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