“Regulatory Sandboxes” In The Field Of Digital Innovation: Conceptual Representations

Abstract

The essence and mechanism of experimental legal regimes in the field of digital innovations (the so-called "regulatory sandboxes") are considered; the experience of using the “regulatory sandbox” mechanism abroad is described; the features of the conceptual model of experimental legal regimes in the field of digital innovations for Russia are described; possible directions of application of this mechanism are considered. The prospects for the use of "regulatory sandboxes" in the agricultural sector were separately investigated due to the fact that digitalization in the industry is impeded by the risks caused by the current level of development and the peculiarities of legal regulation in the agricultural sector. A well-grounded conclusion was made that the existing legal system in Russia does not promote, but rather hinders the development of digital technologies in the country (including due to the fact that digital innovations are capable of initiating legal risks). And "regulatory sandboxes" allow overcoming obstacles from the legal environment, solving the problem of legal risk, and allow implementation of new digital technological solutions that serve as the basis for technological development. In Russia, the mechanism of experimental legal regimes has become possible since January 2021 and requires the adoption and justification of a set of regulatory legal acts in this field.