New Publication! | Chiara Spiniello: It’s (Still) Time for Digital Constitutionalism

Abstract
The remarkable prospects for progress — alongside emerging forms of power and subjugation — associated with the rise of cyber-digital technologies have prompted the European Union to pursue a distinctive approach to Internet governance, seeking to reconcile digital constitutionalism with ambitions for digital sovereignty. This contribution first defines the notion of digital constitutionalism and examines its development within European legal and political discourse. It then undertakes a qualitative, comparative analysis of national digital strategies and political narratives in three Member States (France, Germany, and Italy), selected for their distinctive stances. The conclusions underline how conflicting national interests risk undermining the fragile balance of the European project, casting doubt on the viability and contemporary relevance of digital constitutionalism’s foundational principles.