Law and Information Technologies in Modern Conditions of Globalization

Abstract

The author considers various aspects of the use of information technologies in the context of globalization in cross-border private law relations. Separately, the issues of determining the law applicable to relations implemented using information technologies (Internet sites, blockchain technologies, mobile applications), the problems of jurisdiction are analyzed. The legal approaches of the Russian Federation, the United States, the EU, and the People's Republic of China are examined. Special attention is given to both the normative legal approaches adopted in these countries, as well as law enforcement practice, decisions and comments of the highest courts. Blockchain technology is analyzed as the most effective information technology that leads to e-commerce processes optimization, ensures the immutability of data in the system and their safe storage and processing. The paper discusses the latest Russian legislation on digital financial assets and digital currency, which can be created based on blockchain technology. It is noted that by recognizing the digital currency as a means of payment, but not recognizing it as a monetary unit, the Russian legislator creates an ambiguous legal field and, in fact, leaves the law enforcement authorities the right to decide on the perception of the digital currency as a specific object of civil rights, sharing it with the concept of a digital financial asset. Through the prism of the influence of the technological environment on the regulation of cross-border private law relations, the principle of technological neutrality is considered. There is a tendency to deviate from the principle of technological neutrality, to develop self-regulatory activities, regulatory mechanisms within the technological environment, to the need to take into account the technology of implementation of relations (which characterizes a particular "state affiliation" of relations) when determining the applicable law, jurisdiction over disputes arising from crossborder relations.