Digital capitalism is transforming the Pacific Islands in ways that present opportunities for economic development, increased availability of financial resources, and improved service provision. However, it also poses significant challenges for residents of these island nations who are concerned about their overreliance on technology developed outside the region, losing control, and the degradation of their respective cultures due to the influx of digital technology. Projects like the Pasifika Data Chain (PDC) blockchain initiative, Starlink's arrival in the region, and new policy developments such as the Lagatoi Declaration highlight that Pacific islands are not simply being swept up by the tide of digitalisation; they are proactively making choices about how they will utilise and adapt technology to their values and priorities. A common theme across all of these initiatives is the concept of digital sovereignty. Who has control over the collection and use of data? Who owns the infrastructure that supports an increasingly digital society? How do new technologies co-exist or conflict with established methods of living and doing business? Policy analysis, case studies, and quantitative data illustrating levels of access to the internet across the Pacific region demonstrate significant disparities in access to, and use of, the internet among Pacific island communities. Some communities within the Pacific Islands have made substantial advances in developing their digital future; others are left behind. In order for Pacific island nations to develop sustained digital futures that meet the needs of their people, they must develop digital futures that are based on traditional Pacific Island methods.

digital capitalism, Pacific Islands, digital sovereignty, techno-colonialism, digital transformation

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