The Author examines the European strategy aimed at establishing a “digital sovereignty” based on European fundamental rights and values, by contrasting the recent dominance of private powers in the regulation of new virtual spaces. Nowadays times have changed, and public power needs to reclaim its role in the regulation of virtual life in a framework where there are multiple levels of rules which correspond to as many expressions of power. Especially the European Union should adopt appropriate legal instruments in order to affirm its leadership towards China and U.S.A.