AI INFRASTRUCTURES FOR SOVEREIGNITY AND UND SELF-DETERMINATION (“INFRA-SOUVERÄN“)

The Infra-Souverän project examines from a legal, social, and information science perspective how infrastructures for artificial intelligence (AI) can be designed in such a way that they strengthen digital sovereignty, informational self-determination, and democratic values in Germany and Europe. The starting point is the observation that AI systems are not only dependent on digital infrastructures, but are themselves increasingly becoming an infrastructure for numerous applications and services.

This development opens up new opportunities for innovation and efficiency, but at the same time raises fundamental questions about the concentration of power, dependencies on large platform providers, data protection, democratic public discourse, and cybersecurity. Infra-Souverän analyzes these challenges and, based on this analysis, develops conceptual and practical approaches for the value-oriented design of AI infrastructures, as well as recommendations for action for politics, business, and administration.

In particular, the project will:

  • examine the infrastructural role of AI systems and their social impact,
  • develop legal and ethical design options for sovereign AI infrastructures, and
  • make proposals for the standardization of risk analyses in accordance with the GDPR, AI Regulation, and Digital Services Act.

The results will be published in the form of scientific publications, recommendations for action, and science communication formats.

Project data

  • Partners:
    • FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz-Institut für Informationsinfrastruktur
    • Internationales Zentrum für Ethik in den Wissenschaften (IZEW), Universität Tübingen
    • Unabhängiges Landeszentrum für Datenschutz Schleswig-Holstein (ULD)
    • eco – Verband der Internetwirtschaft e.V.
  • Funding:
    The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) as part of the funding guideline “Privacy Platform – Supporting Citizens in Exercising Their Fundamental Right to Informational Self-Determination.”
  • Project term: Feb 01, 2026 – Jan 31, 2029