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Abstract
The rapid adoption of virtual hearings, catalyzed by global events, presents a critical inflection point for international commercial arbitration. This paper analyzes the dualism of significant challenges and unprecedented opportunities inherent in this shift. While concerns regarding due process, cybersecurity, and the “digital divide” pose substantial hurdles, the potential for enhanced efficiency, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness is transformative. Through a qualitative analysis of jurisdictional practices, institutional innovation in Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), and cross-border collaborations, this paper argues that the future lies in a hybrid, technologically-integrated model. The arbitration community’s task is to systematize virtual procedures, transforming initial ad-hoc solutions into a resilient, standardized, and trustworthy framework that leverages these opportunities while mitigating the challenges.
References
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