Cyber Micronations and Digital Sovereignty

Abstract

The Internet has spurred the development of thousands of virtual nations. Located entirely online, these micronations claim sovereignty over vast stretches of cyberspace and engage in performative rituals of statehood. They draft constitutions, compose national anthems, sell citizenship, and sometimes, confuse or confound ordinary people. What are these entities and why do their founders and proponents purport to be a state? What legal and ethical challenges do cyber micronations provoke, and how do they challenge orthodox conceptions of the state? This brief communication considers these questions.