About Dr. Alexandra Aytova
Dr. Aleksandra Aytova is the Group Head of Privacy for Applegreen. She is a legal professional with over 15 years of experience in human rights, privacy, information security, AI, and information technology law.
Aleksandra brings extensive experience as a barrister, assistant professor, in-house counsel, and external privacy advisor in the AdTech and FinTech sectors. She has led the development, implementation, monitoring, and certification of Information Security, Privacy, and AI Management Systems.
A recognized expert in multijurisdictional privacy frameworks and AI governance, Dr. Aytova is deeply passionate about the intersection of human rights and technology, offering innovative insights into the ethical challenges posed by technological advancements.
She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E), a Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), and a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). Additionally, she is an Internal Auditor, Lead Auditor, and Lead Implementer for ISO 27001 (Information Security Management) and ISO 27701 (Privacy Information Management).
Aleksandra holds a Ph.D. in Fundamental Rights from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” a Master’s degree in Information Technology Law from the University of Tartu, and a Master’s degree in Law from New Bulgarian University. Recently, she completed a specialization in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at MIT.
Data Embassies Securing the Future of Digital Sovereignty and E-Governance
As we look toward 2030 and beyond, the concept of data embassies offers a groundbreaking solution for safeguarding critical digital infrastructure and preserving the stability of e-governance in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape. Data embassies are a novel legal and technical construct designed to mitigate risks to public e-services and protect sensitive databases from unauthorized access or disruptions by foreign actors. These embassies operate as digital strongholds, circumventing risks posed by submarine cables and foreign surveillance while ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) of information and personal data. Just like traditional embassies, data embassies benefit from international legal protections, ensuring their sovereignty and security even when hosted on foreign soil. Estonia and Ukraine have already pioneered this innovative approach, demonstrating its value in both peacetime and crisis situations. Additionally, following Luxembourg’s lead, Saudi Arabia has announced plans to facilitate the creation of data embassies within its territory, further solidifying this model as a key element of future digital sovereignty strategies. This session will explore the role of data embassies in shaping digital democracy, addressing future challenges in cybersecurity, and safeguarding critical assets. Attendees will gain insights into how this futuristic model could revolutionize public services and digital sovereignty in the next decade. Key provisions:
1. Safeguarding Digital Sovereignty
Data embassies extend diplomatic protections to critical digital infrastructure, ensuring that national and organizational data remain sovereign, even when hosted on foreign soil. This aligns with the evolution of governance frameworks necessary for the next wave of digital industrialization.
2. Mitigating Risks from Surveillance and Infrastructure Vulnerabilities
As industries increasingly rely on AI, cloud computing, and quantum technologies, securing digital assets from cyber threats, espionage, and geopolitical risks becomes crucial. Data embassies provide a decentralized, resilient infrastructure, mitigating threats from foreign surveillance and attacks.
3. Future-Ready E-Governance and Digital Democracy:
Just as past industrial revolutions required stable energy and communication networks, future digital economies will depend on trusted and uninterrupted data flows. Data embassies create a secure foundation for AI-driven economies, digital governance, and cross-border collaboration, ensuring industrial and societal continuity in an era of rapid technological transformation. Data embassies represent a forward-thinking solution to protect digital democracy, offering robust protection for critical assets in both peacetime and wartime, with applications that extend to 2030 and beyond.