German Ciphers, Telegrams and Data Sovereignty

The piece explores the implications of data sovereignty through historical and modern examples, starting with the Zimmermann Telegram in 1917, where Germany's encrypted message to Mexico was intercepted by British codebreakers, influencing the United States to enter World War I. This historical context is linked to current concerns about data sovereignty and privacy, particularly focusing on the US CLOUD Act, which allows the US government to access data stored by American companies overseas. Microsoft is highlighted as an example, having allegedly shared sensitive information from Dutch regulators with the US Congress, raising concerns about the security of European data stored on US-operated infrastructure. The article argues that relying on external infrastructure for critical operations carries hidden risks, suggesting that ownership of data and infrastructure might be worth the additional effort for sensitive information, while also emphasizing the benefits of open-source solutions that offer more control over data.

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