Trust in Digital Sovereignty: A Review of Security, Privacy, and Governance Challenges

Abstract Digital sovereignty is increasingly vital for organizations addressing security, privacy, and regulatory challenges.Yet, trust in these frameworks remains inconsistent due to fragmented governance and evolving technologies. This study conducted an SLR following PRISMA guidelines and analyzed 223 peer-reviewed articles from the Scopus database published between 2013 and 2025. A bibliometric analysis revealed a sharp increase in publications after 2020, with data privacy and AI governance emerging as dominant themes. Despite growing interest, significant gaps remain in unified policy models and cross-border trust mechanisms. This review synthesises key findings and trends to guide policymakers, researchers, and practitioners toward building more trustworthy digital sovereignty systems.