Sovereigns of Software

Most people sense that large platforms are powerful, but fewer can explain how that power actually works. Why can a tweak to an app store rule cripple a business, or a content policy update reset the boundaries of political debate overnight? This book maps the hidden constitutions of major platforms and shows how they govern speech, trade and data as if they were partial states. It unpacks platform governance and online platform regulation in plain language, guiding readers through the mechanics of content moderation, app store regulation and digital platform governance without getting lost in technical detail. Along the way, it explains why algorithmic accountability matters, how data localisation reshapes digital borders, and where arguments about digital sovereignty are heading. Drawing on real-world cases and clear frameworks, it offers a grounded view of tech policy debates that are often polarised or vague. Written for policymakers, technologists, journalists and concerned citizens, this is a tech policy book for readers who want more than slogans. It helps you recognise when platform power is being used responsibly, when it overreaches, and what better governance could look like without freezing innovation.