digitallawJournal of Digital Technologies and LawJournal of Digital Technologies and Law2949-2483Kazan Innovative University named after V. G. Timiryasov10.21202/jdtl.2025.15gcvuawdigitallaw-579Research ArticleARTICLESСТАТЬИInternational Fundamentals of Legal Regulation of the Data Center Industry in the Arctic States and the AntarcticМеждународные основы правового регулирования индустрии центров обработки данных в арктических государствах и Антарктикеhttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-6063-0650ШумаковаН. И.ShumakovaN. I.

Шумакова Наталья Игоревна – старший преподаватель кафедры конституционного и административного права,

454080, г. Челябинск, пр. Ленина, 76.

Scopus Author ID: 59966654200;

WoS Researcher ID: MTE-8168-2025;

РИНЦ Author ID: 1211522

Nataliya I. Shumakova – Senior Lecturer, Department of Constitutional and Administrative Law, 

76 Lenin prospekt, 454080, Chelyabinsk.

Scopus Author ID: 59966654200

WoS Researcher ID: MTE-8168-2025

РИНЦ Author ID: 1211522

shumakovani@susu.ruЮжно-Уральский государственный университет (национальный исследовательский университет)РоссияSouth-Ural State University (National Research University)Russian Federation20251911202533369396Copyright © Shumakova N.I., 20252025Шумакова Н.И.Shumakova N.I.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://www.lawjournal.digital/jour/article/view/579Objective

Objective: to critically assess the effectiveness of existing international legal norms under the new challenges of technological progress, related to the development of the data center industry in the Arctic states and the Antarctic.

Methods

Methods: the methodological basis of the research is a set of special and general methods of scientific cognition, including methods of comparative law, content analysis, deduction, induction, formal logical method and document analysis. The author turns to interdisciplinary approaches in order to objectively assess the environmental, social and legal risks arising from the data center industry growth in regions with increased climatic and social vulnerability.

Results

Results: the article analyzed international legal acts regulating the functioning of data centers in polar regions. It identified the key risks and divided them into environmental (instability of local ecosystems, lack of adaptability to rapid changes, risk of losing biological diversity, and greenhouse gas emissions) and social (marginalization and violation of the rights of indigenous peoples, loss of traditional cultures and lifestyles, increased social tension). The author points out that new conflicts and challenges will inevitably emerge due to the insufficient effectiveness of national and international regulatory mechanisms. The states the need to create specialized international legal instruments taking into account the specifics of the environmental safety of the polar territories.

Scientific novelty

Scientific novelty: for the first time, the article provides a comprehensive analysis of the integral risks and drawbacks of the current international legislation on data center industry in the Arctic states and the Antarctic. The author provides a comparative analysis of the normative framework and shows the inconsistency between the “soft law” principles application on the polar regions and the fourth technological revolution. The author substantiates the requirement to create new certification and reporting procedures throughout the lifecycle of data centers, taking into account the legal and cultural context.

Practical significance

Practical significance: the results are focused on improving international and national policies in the sphere of regulating the data center industry and on developing certification and reporting standards that could be effective in the climatic, social and economic conditions of the Arctic states and the Antarctic. The research is aimed at minimizing the negative impact of anthropogenic factors and ensuring a balance between industrial development and the preservation of unique natural and cultural landscapes. 

Цель

Цель: критически оценить эффективность существующих международных правовых норм в условиях новых вызовов технологического прогресса, связанных с развитием индустрии центров обработки данных в арктических государствах и Антарктике.

Методы

Методы: методологическую основу исследования составляет комплекс специальных и общих методов научного познания, включая юридическую компаративистику, контент-анализ, дедукцию, индукцию, формально-логический метод и анализ документов. Автор уделяет внимание междисциплинарным подходам для объективной оценки экологических, социальных и правовых рисков, возникающих вследствие роста индустрии центров обработки данных в регионах с повышенной климатической и социальной уязвимостью.

Результаты

Результаты: проведен анализ международных правовых актов, регулирующих деятельность центров обработки данных в полярных регионах. Выявлены ключевые риски, делящиеся на экологические (нестабильность локальных экосистем, неадаптивность к быстрым изменениям, риск потери биологического разнообразия и выбросы парниковых газов) и социальные (маргинализация и нарушение прав коренных народов, утрата традиционных культур и образа жизни, рост социальной напряженности). Указана неизбежность появления новых конфликтов и вызовов вследствие недостаточной эффективности национальных и международных механизмов регулирования. Констатирована необходимость создания специализированных международных правовых инструментов, учитывающих специфику экологической безопасности полярных территорий.

Научная новизна

Научная новизна: статья впервые дает комплексную картину совокупных рисков и недостатков действующего международного регулирования индустрии центров обработки данных в арктических государствах и Антарктике. Проведен детальный сравнительный анализ нормативной базы, показана несоответственность применения принципов «мягкого права» в полярных регионах в эпоху четвертой технологической революции. Обосновано требование о создании новых сертификационных и отчетных процедур на всем жизненном цикле центров обработки данных с учетом правового и культурного контекста.

Практическая значимость

Практическая значимость: результаты работы ориентированы на совершенствование международной и национальной политики в сфере регулирования индустрии центров обработки данных, разработку стандартов сертификации и отчетности, эффективных в условиях климатических, социальных и экономических особенностей арктических стран и Антарктики. Направлены на минимизацию негативного влияния антропогенных факторов и обеспечение баланса между индустриальным развитием и сохранением уникальных природных и культурных ландшафтов.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.