ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL MECHANISMS FOR ENSURING THE BALANCE BETWEEN ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INFORMATION SPACE

Administrative and legal mechanisms for ensuring the balance between access to public information and the protection of national security in the context of the development of the information spaceThis article provides an in-depth legal and administrative analysis of mechanisms designed to strike a balance between the constitutional right of citizens to access public information and the imperative to safeguard Ukraine's national security in the context of a rapidly evolving digital environment.The authors highlight that the digitalization of public governance, the proliferation of internet communications, and the increasing use of open data as a transparency tool generate significant security challenges, particularly amid hybrid warfare and information threats.The study explores current Ukrainian legislation and relevant regulatory acts governing information access and national security restrictions.It outlines the legally authorized actors responsible for restricting access to information, the legal grounds and procedural safeguards for such restrictions, and the principles of proportionality and legitimacy.Special emphasis is placed on the dual necessity of promoting information openness to enhance governmental accountability and citizen engagement, while simultaneously protecting sensitive data related to state, official, or commercial secrecy.The article examines key issues such as information classification, cybersecurity infrastructure, the role of digital platforms, and the operations of national cyber institutions.The authors offer practical recommendations for improving the legal framework, automating administrative processes, advancing digital platforms for open data, and aligning national legislation with international legal standards.It is argued that maintaining the balance between transparency and security demands a dynamic, adaptive approach to regulation, responsive to ongoing transformations in the national and global information security landscape.