The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has taken a significant step toward modernizing its legal framework with the initial approval of a new Civil Code that addresses the inheritance of digital assets and the protection of individuals’ digital rights. The draft law passed its first reading on Tuesday, signaling a commitment to adapt to the evolving digital landscape. This proposed legislation aims to safeguard Ukrainians’ right to informational peace, restricting employer contact during designated rest periods.
Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, highlighted the absence of legal regulations regarding the inheritance of digital assets prior to this initiative. During a televised statement, he emphasized that the new provisions would cover a range of digital rights, including personal accounts, messaging applications, and the right to be free from unsolicited disturbances during legally mandated breaks.
A separate large sphere is the rights of a person in the digital realm, starting with the protection of a person’s rights to personal accounts, to messages in messaging apps, and ending with such elementary rights as the right to informational peace – when the authorities cannot disturb a person during the period when they have a legally mandated day off… neither through messengers, nor WhatsApp messages, nor any other digital means. This is the protection of human rights, including in the digital sphere
– Ruslan Stefanchuk
Stefanchuk also indicated that the draft Civil Code will include specific provisions for regulating digital assets such as cryptocurrencies and other digital concepts. This move is viewed as a critical step toward recognizing and legitimizing these assets within Ukrainian law.
For us it was very important to regulate these issues: crypto assets, Bitcoins, and a whole range of other digital concepts – they are today already included in the Civil Code project
– Ruslan Stefanchuk
In addition to digital assets, the new Civil Code will address artificial intelligence for the first time, reflecting the growing importance of AI in various sectors. Stefanchuk noted that this comprehensive draft represents the largest legislative codification in the history of the Verkhovna Rada, a project that has taken seven years to develop. It involved extensive collaboration among a working group comprising academics, judges, lawyers, and other experts.
Stefanchuk expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Digital Transformation for their efforts in aligning the provisions with EU standards and ensuring they reflect Ukraine’s interests. He urged all stakeholders to contribute to refining the Civil Code, reinforcing that it aims to serve every citizen of Ukraine.
In this document we regulate also separate questions of using artificial intelligence – for the first time at the level of the Civil Code
– Ruslan Stefanchuk
The approval of this draft marks a pivotal moment for Ukraine as it seeks to establish a legal framework that addresses the realities of a digital society. As the legislative process progresses with public and expert revisions ahead, the outcomes may significantly influence the legal landscape, reflecting the country’s commitment to protecting individual rights in the digital age.
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