Interdependence, Not Autarky
Sovereignty is not isolationism. A sovereign user can (and should) connect with others. But they connect as a peer, not a subject. In a sovereign network (like ActivityPub), if one server goes down or bans you, you can move your identity and data elsewhere. The connection remains; the provider is replaceable.
The Sovereign Stack
To be sovereign, one must control the entire stack:
- Identity:
yourname.com(you rent it from a registry, but laws protect your claim). - Data: Local-first files (Markdown, JSON) that do not require cloud APIs to read.
- Software: Open source tools that cannot be remotely deactivated.
Field Notes
The "Exit" Test: The ultimate test of sovereignty is Exit. Can you leave your current provider right now, take all your data and followers, and set up shop elsewhere without asking permission? If the answer is "No," you are not sovereign; you are a tenant.