On November 17–18, 2025, the Faculty of Law at HSE University hosted the international research-to-practice conference titled Challenges of the Information Society: Trends in the Legal Regulation of Digital Transformations. The event concentrated on pivotal issues in legal transformation amid the development of digital technologies, including data governance, methodologies for regulating digital processes, the growth of the digital economy, and the systematization of information legislation.
On November 18, the conference featured a panel discussion titled Internet Governance and International Information Security: Legal Aspects and Challenges of Digital Transformation. The session, organized by the HSE Law Faculty’s School of Digital Law and Bio-Law in collaboration with the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ, addressed contemporary approaches to digital regulation, international legal frameworks for data protection, and the impact of artificial intelligence on information security.
The discussion was moderated by Alena Gerashchenko, a member of the Coordination Center’s Youth Council. Speakers presented reports covering a wide range of issues related to modern digital challenges and legal governance.
During the session, Arevik Martirosyan, a member of the Youth Council and head of the School of International Information Security, along with Nikita Solovyov, a member of the Youth Council and Executive Director of the School of International Information Security, analyzed the international legal landscape of digital agenda. Describing the current situation, Arevik Martirosyan noted:
“Contemporary international legal challenges in ICT are marked by unprecedented dynamism. The digital environment has become a key arena for political competition, economic development, technological rivalry, and cross-border threats. In this context, establishing a resilient international legal architecture is not just a matter of legal order but also a question of global security.”
Karen Kazaryan, Director of Analytics at the Digital Economy Autonomous Nonprofit Organization, discussed alternative mechanisms for international cooperation in information security.
Yuri Kolotaev, Senior Lecturer at St. Petersburg State University’s School of International Relations, examined the concept of “sovereignty as a service” in the context of information security, highlighting the balance between practical approaches and emerging myths.
Alexandra Teslenko, a member of the Coordination Center’s Youth Council, emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to safeguarding personal data in AI applications. She stated that user distrust in AI cannot be overcome through fragmented measures and stressed that sustainable solutions must integrate legal, technical, and organizational mechanisms – from international standard harmonization to the development of national ethical and legal algorithm assessment frameworks.
“Developing effective technical mechanisms based on privacy-by-default principles is not just regulatory compliance but a strategic investment in trust, without which sustainable AI advancement and widespread adoption are impossible,” she added.
Maria Bazlutskaya, Executive Director of the Coordination Laboratory Autonomous Nonprofit Organization, presented an analysis of extraterritorial data regulation mechanisms in the US and Chinese legal systems and their impact on global jurisdictional frameworks.
The session concluded with a presentation by Andrey Ignatyev, Head of Analytics at the Center for Global IT Cooperation, who addressed the development of AI standards and tools for security applications.
The discussion also featured contributions from Andrey Romanov, Deputy Director of the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ, and Andrey Aleynikov, Chair of the Coordination Center’s Youth Council.
In closing, participants underscored the importance of academic collaboration in shaping modern legal solutions for the digital sphere.
