From Cells to Codes: The Legal Transformation of Digital Identity, Integrity, and Self-Determination in the Digital Age

Ondrej Hamuľák; Lusine Vardanyan; Hovsep Kocharyan

doi:10.18778/0208-6069.113.07

Authors

Ondrej Hamuľák Tallinn University of Technology, School of Business and Governance; Palacký University Olomouc, Faculty of Law https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4147-2891
Lusine Vardanyan Palacký University Olomouc, Faculty of Law https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2981-0520
Hovsep Kocharyan Palacký University Olomouc, Faculty of Law https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5533-2605

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/0208-6069.113.07

Keywords:

digital identity, bodily integrity, biometric data, data protection, digital sovereignty, legal frameworks

Abstract

This article examines the evolving relationship between the human body and digital data, particularly in light of technological advancements that blur the distinction between physical and digital identities. The research explores the implications of this transformation for legal frameworks, questioning whether current data protection laws sufficiently safeguard personal integrity and identity in the digital age. This study emphasises the limitations of existing regulations, which primarily focus on personal data rather than the broader concept of individual identity. A central argument is that the right to informational self-determination discussed in the scientific literature and recognized in German legal practice should play a critical role in ensuring autonomy and personal identity protection. The discussion also highlights the necessity of developing more effective legal mechanisms to safeguard digital identities against technological vulnerabilities, unauthorised profiling, and market-driven commodification of personal data. This study ultimately calls for a reconsideration of legal concepts such as bodily integrity, informational self-determination, and digital sovereignty, advocating for a more comprehensive legal approach to the protection of individuals in the digital sphere. This document argues that the existing legal framework inadequately protects new forms of identity in the digital environment, especially with regard to information self-determination and digital embodiment. By exploring the changing boundaries of the human body in technological and digital contexts, this article aims to promote clearer recognition of digital identity rights within legal systems.

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