Guest Editor's Note on Digitalization in Law

• Author: M. Radvan
• Position: Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic)
• Pages: 5-9

BRICS LAW JOURNAL Volume VII (2020) Issue 2

GuEST EDIToR’S noTE on DIGITALIZATIon In LAw

MICHAL RADVAN,

Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic)

https://doi.org/10.21684/2412-2343-2020-7-2-5-9

Recommended citation: Michal Radvan, Guest Editor’s Note on Digitalization in Law,

7(2) BRICS Law Journal 5–9 (2020).

Digitalization is a phenomenon of the last two decades. This term is very often used

in everyday life, in the economy, in the scientic literature, etc. There are completely

new business sectors. The digitalization touches all spheres of life, including law.

However, do we really know what does the term itself mean? Can we describe and

analyse the impact of digitalization in law? Is it necessary to digitalize law? What are

the benets of digitalization in-law/of law? And are there any threats connected with

this process? I believe that the following articles in this special issue have the potential

to at least partially answer some of these questions regarding the selected areas.

Generally, digitalization is a generic term used for the digital transformation of

the economy. However, other similar terms are used very often (and by the authors

of the following articles as well) as synonyms: digitization and digital transformation.

Digitization was the rst step, as it means transitioning from analogue to digital. It is

the process of making all paper information available and accessible in digital format,

the material process of converting analogue streams of information into digital bits.1

Digitalization follows, as digitized data creates the potential for applications that

facilitate standard work practices. Digitalization is the way many domains of social

life are restructured around digital communication and media infrastructures.2 Digital

transformation is then the third step, as thanks to digitization and digitalization, new

business concepts are created.

1 J. Scott Brennen & Daniel Kreiss, Digitalization in The International Encyclopedia of Communication

Theory and Philosophy. Vol. 4 556 (K.B. Jensen et al. (eds.), Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2016).

2 Id.