Habeas Data and Digital Rights: Implication for Legal Education and Digital Citizenship

This article explores the origin and development of Habeas Data as a constitutional guarantee in Latin America and its implications for Albania, especially in the digital era. While Habeas Corpus has long served as a cornerstone of European legal tradition, particularly in safeguarding personal freedom, Habeas Data emerges as a complementary legal mechanism aimed at protecting informational self-determination and the right to privacy in an increasingly data-driven society. In Latin America, Habeas Data has evolved not only as a tool for accessing, correcting, or deleting personal data but also as an expression of democratic oversight in the digital sphere. In Albania, the digitalization of public services through platforms such as e-Albania has improved efficiency but raised concerns about data security, especially following the 2023 cyberattack that disrupted national services. This context highlights the urgency of reinforcing legal protections for digital rights. The article argues that legal education must respond to these emerging challenges by integrating digital citizenship, data protection, and the right to privacy into the curriculum. Furthermore, Albanian legislators are called upon to strengthen constitutional guarantees through reforms that reflect the digital realities of contemporary society. Received: 9 January 2025 / Accepted: 27 April 2025 / Published: 08 May 2025