THE DIGITAL ERA AS A CHALLENGE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Abstract

The digital era, as a period in which digital technologies have a significant impact on all aspects of human life and society as a whole, represents a general change in the way we live and function. The development of digital technologies and digitization opens up new ways to exchange ideas, information, research and other activities that take place in the digital space. The advanced level of modernization in contemporary states is facilitated by digitalization, which involves the use of information technologies across both the private and public sectors. The process of digitization ensures openness, transparency, and inclusivity, which satisfies the requirements for effective and efficient governance. However, as digital space expands, so do the opportunities for violations of human rights and freedoms, which occur in both the offline and online worlds. The protection of human rights in the 21st century depends on the ability of states to clearly establish their protection in a digital context. The purpose of this article is to highlight the challenges, risks, but also the possibilities for improving the protection of human rights in the digital era, especially the right to privacy and the protection of personal data. To achieve this goal, several methods will be applied, such as the analysis of scientific and professional literature, normative, historical, comparative, empirical and descriptive methods. In conclusion, the need to develop a dialogue that will balance progress in the protection of basic human rights will be highlighted.