Volume 15 Issue 07, July 2025
Impact factor: 2019: 4.679 2020: 5.015 2021: 5.436, 2022: 5.242, 2023:
6.995, 2024 7.75
http://www.internationaljournal.co.in/index.php/jasass
212
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING: THE NEED
FOR LEGAL REGULATION
Abdurofiyeva Nodirabonu
Termiz State University
3rd-year student of the Faculty of Law
Abstract:
The integration of digital technologies such as remote sensing, geographic
information systems (GIS), drones, and real-time data platforms has significantly enhanced
environmental monitoring capabilities worldwide. However, the rapid expansion of these
technologies has outpaced the development of adequate legal frameworks to regulate their use,
ensure data integrity, and protect privacy. This article explores the benefits and risks associated
with digital environmental monitoring and examines the need for robust legal regulation to guide
responsible and effective implementation. The paper provides a comparative overview of
international practices and outlines key recommendations for national legislators.
Keywords:
Environmental monitoring, digital technology, legal regulation, GIS, drones, data
protection, environmental law, smart governance.
Digital technologies are revolutionizing how governments, scientists, and citizens monitor and
respond to environmental changes. Tools such as satellite imaging, automated air and water
sensors, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics, and citizen science platforms have made
environmental data more accessible, timely, and actionable. These tools are critical for tracking
climate change, pollution, deforestation, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss.
However, the legal regulation of digital environmental monitoring remains underdeveloped in
many countries. Challenges include data ownership, privacy, liability, standardization, and the
admissibility of digital data in legal and regulatory processes. Without a comprehensive legal
framework, the potential of digital tools may be undermined by ethical, legal, and operational
uncertainties. This article addresses the urgent need for legal regulation in the deployment and
use of digital environmental technologies.
This study uses a combination of:
Doctrinal legal analysis
: Review of existing national and international legal instruments
related to environmental monitoring and digital data;
Comparative study
: Evaluation of legal approaches in countries such as the European
Union, the United States, China, and Uzbekistan;
Case analysis
: Assessment of recent environmental incidents where digital technologies
played a role in monitoring or litigation;
Policy review
: Examination of government strategies, environmental reports, and
regulatory guidelines on environmental digitalization.
Volume 15 Issue 07, July 2025
Impact factor: 2019: 4.679 2020: 5.015 2021: 5.436, 2022: 5.242, 2023:
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Digital tools have improved environmental oversight by providing faster, more accurate, and
broader data collection capabilities. Satellite-based remote sensing helps detect illegal logging
and land use changes. Drones are used to monitor emissions from industrial facilities. AI and
machine learning allow for predictive environmental modeling, while open data platforms enable
transparency and public participation.
Despite these advancements, the lack of clear legal regulation has created several problems. In
many jurisdictions, environmental data collected through digital means is not always recognized
in court due to authenticity concerns or unclear chain-of-custody procedures. Privacy regulations
often lag behind technology, especially regarding drone surveillance or sensor networks
operating in residential areas.
There is also a gap in defining the responsibility for data accuracy, maintenance, and security. If
flawed digital data leads to erroneous environmental assessments or regulatory decisions, it is
often unclear who is legally liable—technology providers, state agencies, or data users.
Moreover, developing countries face challenges in accessing high-quality environmental data
due to technological or legal barriers.
At the international level, frameworks such as the
Aarhus Convention
promote access to
environmental information, but do not yet fully address the complexities of digital monitoring.
The
European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
provides safeguards for
personal data but requires adaptation when applied to environmental technologies that collect
both personal and environmental data.
There is an urgent need to establish a comprehensive legal framework that supports innovation in
environmental monitoring while protecting legal and ethical rights. This includes:
Defining the legal status and admissibility of data collected through digital technologies
in court and administrative proceedings;
Creating standards for data quality, interoperability, and security across digital platforms;
Addressing data ownership and intellectual property rights of environmental data;
Developing privacy regulations that are tailored to digital environmental surveillance,
including drone and sensor usage;
Establishing accountability mechanisms in case of data misuse, falsification, or system
failures.
Countries such as Estonia, Germany, and South Korea have begun integrating legal and
technological strategies, using
“digital-by-default”
principles in environmental governance.
These include real-time pollution dashboards, AI-enabled regulatory compliance monitoring, and
blockchain-based environmental data storage.
For countries like Uzbekistan, which are actively modernizing their environmental governance, it
is critical to adopt laws that regulate the acquisition, use, and protection of digital environmental
Volume 15 Issue 07, July 2025
Impact factor: 2019: 4.679 2020: 5.015 2021: 5.436, 2022: 5.242, 2023:
6.995, 2024 7.75
http://www.internationaljournal.co.in/index.php/jasass
214
data. This would not only improve regulatory enforcement but also promote transparency, public
trust, and international cooperation.
Digital technologies present a transformative opportunity for environmental monitoring and
management. However, their effectiveness depends on a strong legal foundation that ensures
reliability, accountability, and respect for rights. Without such regulation, the use of digital tools
may be challenged in courts or misused in practice, ultimately undermining environmental
protection goals.
Enact national legislation defining standards for digital environmental data collection,
sharing, and use;
Align environmental monitoring policies with international data protection and access-to-
information frameworks;
Develop certification and licensing systems for environmental technology providers;
Promote inter-agency and cross-border cooperation on digital environmental governance;
Train legal professionals, regulators, and technology developers on digital environmental
law and ethics.
References
1.
United Nations Environment Programme (2021). Digital Transformation of
Environmental Monitoring.
2.
European Union. (2016). General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
3.
Aarhus Convention (1998) – Access to Information and Public Participation.
4.
OECD. (2020). Smart Environmental Regulation Using Digital Tools.
5.
World Bank. (2022). Technology and Governance in Environmental Protection.
6.
UNECE. (2021). Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Guidelines.
7.
National Geographic Society. (2020). Using Drones for Conservation and Environmental
Justice.
8.
Republic of Uzbekistan. (2023). Draft Law on Environmental Information Systems
(unpublished).
