Sovereignty, whether digital sovereignty, data sovereignty, or AI sovereignty, has been the hot-button issue in Canada for months. Governments have shifted policies in hopes of addressing the issue, the public has expressed interest in Canadian alternatives, and the business community has rushed to meet that interest. But what does it actually take to create a true, sovereign alternative? We now have a live experiment with Gander, a new social network that looks a bit like X or BlueSky, but with data sovereignty. The company has worked to ensure that data remains in Canadian control and developed identity systems that may offer a preview of what’s to come if the social media ban takes hold. Leading the way has been Ben Waldman, Gander’s co-founder and CEO. He joins the Law Bytes podcast this week to talk about Gander’s origin story and to walk through the real-world challenges of creating a sovereign social network.
The podcast can be downloaded here, accessed on YouTube, and is embedded below. Subscribe to the podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or the RSS feed.
Credits:
CTV Your Morning, A New Social Network ‘By Canadians for Canadians’, June 27, 2025
Great episode! It’s fascinating to see a real-world experiment in digital sovereignty with Gander. The challenges Ben describes around data control and identity systems are exactly what we’ll all be navigating more of — thanks for the insights!
A social network that forces people to use an app on your phone is part of the problem, not part of the solution. A web-based way to login and use the service is important and does not yet exist.
Really liked the breakdown of sovereignty as more than just data location
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The idea of building a sovereign social network raises some really interesting questions about data ownership, local digital infrastructure, and whether smaller platforms can realistically compete with global networks. I especially appreciate discussions that look beyond the technology itself and consider the cultural and policy implications as well. That broader intersection of digital life and society is something I also enjoy following on Roozaneh. Looking forward to hearing more about how Gander develops.
This is a fascinating discussion because independent social platforms could have a real impact on how creators, musicians, and niche communities reach their audiences. The challenge is not only building the technology, but also creating enough trust and community value to keep people engaged. From a music and digital-media perspective, which I often explore through Sedahang, the possibility of more locally controlled social networks is especially interesting.