Government Cloud Computing and National Data Sovereignty

Abstract Government cloud services are a new development at the intersection of electronic government and cloud computing which holds the promise of rendering government service delivery more effective and efficient. Cloud services are virtual, dynamic, and potentially stateless which has triggered governments' concern for data sovereignty. This article explores data sovereignty in relation to government cloud services and how national strategies and international policy evolve. It concludes that data sovereignty presents national governments with a legal risk that cannot be adequately addressed with technology or through contractual arrangements alone. Governments therefore adopt strategies that aim to retain sovereignty over government information.