Cybersecurity Policies and Local Digital Sovereignty

• In Event: Reinventing Security: Evaluating the Impact of New Crime Prevention Policies in Liberal Democracies

Abstract

As cities increasingly adopt digital technologies for public services, surveillance, and administrative efficiency, the implementation of cybersecurity policies has emerged as a powerful driver of political and institutional transformation also at the local level. A limited body of research supports the argument that cybersecurity policy is not merely a response to rising cyber risks and threats but also serves as a conduit for reshaping governance in democratic regimes. Previous studies have highlighted that cybersecurity policies tend to facilitate, on the one hand, the centralization of power in the hands of governmental executives and, on the other, the transfer of authority and control over digital matters from local to national levels. This paper seeks to elaborate on the latter process by assessing the impact of cybersecurity policies on the capacity of municipalities to exercise authority and control over the data they collect, use, and produce. Through a critical analysis of secondary data and policy documents, this research conducts three case studies to evaluate the practical implications of cybersecurity policies for local autonomy and sovereignty over digital assets.

Author

• Mauro Santaniello, University of Salerno