The relevance of examining how BRICS member states pursue national digital sovereignty stems from the growing role of digital technologies in safeguarding national security, promoting economic growth, and preserving state independence amid global digital transformation. As geopolitical competition intensifies and external pressure mounts, BRICS countries aim to develop shared approaches to protecting their digital infrastructure and fostering national technological ecosystems. Deeper cooperation in this area serves Russia’s strategic interests by reinforcing its global political standing, diversifying economic ties, and ensuring technological autonomy from unfriendly states.
The study’s objective is to identify the distinctive features of BRICS digital-sovereignty policies. It reviews different interpretations of “digital sovereignty” and singles out five key implementation areas: control over production chains, management of communications and Internet infrastructure, regulation of digital platform services, control over disseminated content, and governance of data flows. The author conducts a comparative analysis of BRICS policies across these five dimensions, pinpointing the main similarities and differences in national approaches. The conclusion presents the author’s assessment of the risks and prospects for BRICS cooperation in bolstering digital sovereignty

The article was written on the basis of the RANEPA state assignment research program

This article was submitted 12.05.2025