On June 19, 2025, the Department of Criminal Law and Procedure of the Educational and Research Institute of Law, Sumy State University, successfully held a high-profile roundtable discussion entitled “EU Experience in the Protection of Personal Data in Cyberspace.” The event was organized as part of the international academic project ERASMUS-JMO-2023-MODULE – ERASMUS2027 – 101125350 – “EUEPPDC” under the Jean Monnet Module of the Erasmus+ Programme.
The department acted as the primary initiator and coordinator of the event, which brought together experts in cyber security, criminal law, technical sciences, and public administration to address critical issues of data protection in the context of digital transformation.
🔹 The roundtable aimed to explore effective legal, institutional, and educational approaches to protecting personal data, focusing on the practical implementation of EU standards in Ukrainian legislation and administrative practices.
🗣 The event was opened by project coordinator Dr. Mykhailo Dumchykov, who emphasized the growing importance of digital security as a component of national resilience. He underlined the role of the department in integrating digital topics into both legal education and scientific research.
📌 The following expert presentations were delivered:
🔹 Artem Bukhtiyarov,
Senior Inspector for Special Assignments, Cybercrime Division, Sumy Region
📍 “Project BRAMA: A Key to Protecting Your Digital Identity” – focused on national initiatives in identity protection and the implementation of digital authentication tools.
🔹 V. V. Kalchenko,
Head of Critical Infrastructure Protection, State Service for Special Communications, Sumy Region
📍 “Legislative Innovations in Ukraine on Personal Data Protection in Information and Communication Systems” – provided an overview of recent legal developments and regulatory frameworks.
🔹 Prof. Halyna Shylo,
Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Department of Computer Sciences, Zaporizhzhia National University
📍 “Cyber Hygiene and Digital Education as Tools for Preventing Personal Data Breaches” – stressed the role of digital literacy and awareness-building from early education to professional training.
🔹 Assoc. Prof. Serhii Babanin,
PhD in Law, Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs
📍 “Criminal-Legal Protection of Information: National and International Perspectives” – analyzed the criminal law dimension of data protection and cybercrime prosecution.
🔹 Assoc. Prof. Maryna Utkina,
Doctor of Law, Department of Criminal Law and Procedure, SumDU
📍 “Striking the Balance Between Security and Privacy: How the EU Regulates Personal Data Processing in the Digital Era” – explored GDPR principles and their relevance to Ukrainian legal harmonization.
💬 Outcomes and Reflections
Throughout the discussions, participants emphasized that the protection of personal data is a multidisciplinary challenge, requiring joint efforts from legal scholars, IT specialists, law enforcement agencies, and educational institutions.
The roundtable reaffirmed that raising digital awareness, reforming national legislation, and aligning with EU best practices are vital steps toward ensuring secure and transparent data governance in Ukraine.
📍 The Department of Criminal Law and Procedure of Sumy State University has once again demonstrated its leading role in implementing international academic initiatives aimed at fostering digital competence in legal education and governance.
🧩 This event served as a dynamic platform for intersectoral dialogue, expert networking, and academic-practical exchange, contributing to the broader objective of strengthening information security and human rights protection in cyberspace.
📌 The organizers express their sincere gratitude to all speakers, partners, and participants for their meaningful contributions and commitment to advancing a secure digital future for Ukraine.
📺 The event recording is available at the following link: https://sumdu-edu-ua.zoom.us/rec/share/5yQ5PxgBgaavB6Y_cMNCwMW11xp8R_GBLJIfoORkzX0X7fn8i4qf0d5LCcvKk7nb.0P7c-YNh8_4PEQil
Code – 7!FE5Xcz
