TAIMI Research Presented at International Symposium on Digital Sovereignty and Government
The TAIMI project is pleased to highlight a significant research contribution by Dr. Edemilson Paraná, who presented recent findings on digital sovereignty and public data governance at the Statecraft, Sovereignty & Digital Government Symposium, hosted by Goldsmiths, University of London.
The symposium brought together leading international scholars from the fields of Science and Technology Studies (STS), software and platform studies, media studies, political theory, international relations, and cultural studies. Organised by the DIGI-FRONT project, the event provided a platform for interdisciplinary discussions on the evolving relationship between digital technologies, governance, and state sovereignty.
During the symposium, Dr. Paraná presented the paper “From Statecraft to Platform Power: The Travails of Statistical Sovereignty in Latin America,” co-authored with Oscar Arruda d’Alva (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística – IBGE) and Rodrigo Santaella Gonçalves (LUT University). He participated in a panel alongside internationally recognised researchers working on digital sovereignty, including João C. Magalhães, Marguerite Borelli, Clara Iglesias Keller, and Julia Pohle.
Addressing the Challenges of Statistical Sovereignty
The paper examines how the growing influence of digital platforms is reshaping the production of official statistics, using Brazil as a primary case study. National statistical systems have traditionally played a central role in supporting public administration, policymaking, and democratic governance by providing reliable and independent data.
The research argues that this role is increasingly under pressure as governments become more dependent on data controlled by large technology companies and on AI-driven analytical tools. This shift from traditional state-led statistical systems toward what the authors describe as “platform power” raises important questions about public accountability, institutional autonomy, and the governance of data.
A central argument of the paper is that national statistical systems require stronger legal protections to ensure access to privately held platform data when it serves the public interest. Rather than allowing commercial platforms to determine the availability of critical information, the authors advocate for regulatory frameworks that safeguard statistical sovereignty and strengthen the capacity of public institutions.
Advancing International Dialogue
Dr. Paraná’s participation in the symposium reflects the growing international relevance of research conducted within the TAIMI project. By contributing to discussions on digital sovereignty, data governance, and the future of public institutions in the digital age, the research supports evidence-based policymaking and international collaboration on some of the most pressing governance challenges of our time.
The TAIMI project congratulates Dr. Edemilson Paraná and his co-authors on this important achievement and looks forward to the continued impact of their research in shaping debates on digital governance and public data infrastructures.