The article frames the current global landscape as a new Cold War, characterized by invisible borders formed not by concrete walls but by networks, data clouds, and computing centers. It emphasizes that control over data and digital infrastructure has become a cornerstone of national sovereignty in today’s world. Rather than the physical limitations seen in the 20th century, the present struggle revolves around the free flow of data, which is intricately tied to personal privacy.

In the latter half of the 20th century, the Berlin Wall symbolized ideological division and the restriction of human movement. Today, however, the focus has shifted to the competition over data movement, emphasizing how nations and geopolitical blocs are vying for technological independence, particularly from dominant actors like the United States. This reflects an ongoing concern over privacy and the management of individual information, illustrating how technology and data control are now as significant as physical borders once were.

Furthermore, the article highlights the unmaskable digital fragmentation seen in the 21st century, with major powers recalibrating their technological strategies to avoid dependency on external suppliers. As the European Union and other regions seek to assert their positions in this new digital order, the ramifications of data sovereignty continue to unfold, affecting not only international relations but also individual freedoms and privacy rights on a global scale.