ΠΕΡΙΓΡΑΦΗ

The regulation of emerging technologies has once again come to the forefront of regulatory considerations around the globe. Governments and regulators have expressed concerns around issues such as data breaches, online manipulation, fintech regulation, and the regulation of emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain. This regulation is fast developing and often very difficult to track and comprehend. Some of the key regulatory concerns include digital platforms, social and other media and their duty of care towards users and citizens.

On the other hand, disruptive technologies such as AI and blockchain pose similar challenges around accountability, transparency and security. Thus, while businesses often adopt disruptive technologies rapidly and successfully, regulators struggle to provide an adequate response. These responses range from ethical principles to self and co-regulation, as well as the hard law. They often require EU-wide or international approaches as well.

This seminar will address some of these challenges that both regulators and business face. It will compare a number of international and EU regimes that take the mandatory, co-regulatory or self-regulatory approach to address concerns surrounding disruptive technologies (the Internet, AI, blockchain) and discuss their common principles and differences. The aim is to draw from the existing and emerging sectoral regulatory regimes, such as the traditional media, telecommunications or the Internet and assess whether and to what extent these general and specific principles of regulation are applicable to different contexts, industries and countries, including Cyprus.

In addition, the course will look at two specific regulatory challenges in more detail.  These challenges pertain to the tech industry in particular, but also to any other business who has ‘gone digital’ and is using or contemplating to use electronic and smart contracts. The first challenge is the regulation of online platforms (‘companies that allow users to share or discover user-generated content or interact with each other online’, including a very wide range of companies of all sizes, social media platforms, file-hosting sites, public discussion forums, messaging services and search engines).  The course will assess the existing and emerging regulation of online platforms in the EU, the UK and the US and discuss to what extent these may be applicable to the Cypriot business context.

A second specific issue that will be covered is that of electronic and smart contracts. The seminar will explore current regulation and law of electronic contracts, as well as the emerging regulation of blockchain and smart contracts. The focus will be on the European initiatives, and their relevance and practical implications for digital businesses, consumers and regulators in Cyprus.

ΣΚΟΠΟΣ ΣΕΜΙΝΑΡΙΟΥ

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

• Examine key features of emerging technologies and their regulatory challenges
  
• Comprehend the differences and similarities between the regulation of the Internet, media and emerging technologies such as blockchain and AI
• Assess the ongoing regulatory activities in Europe and the US around Internet platforms and social media
• Understand the implications of international and national regulation on the national business contexts in Cyprus
• Learn key principles of regulation and the law of electronic contracts in the EU, and the emerging regulatory regimes of smart contracts
• Prepare their organisation for some of the key future regulatory challenges in these areas 

ΣΕ ΠΟΙΟΥΣ ΑΠΕΥΘΥΝΕΤΑΙ

Who should attend

The programme is ideal for:

• Executives and Senior Managers
• Compliance Managers
• Compliance Officers
• Internal Lawyers
• Media professionals
• Managers of start-ups and digital businesses
• Regulators and public servants working in the areas discussed
• Any other professionals and managers interested in cutting edge regulatory issues and emerging regulation

ΠΕΡΙΣΣΟΤΕΡΕΣ ΠΛΗΡΟΦΟΡΙΕΣ

Training Outline

Introduction to the regulation of emerging technologies and the media

• Introduction – what are the key regulatory theories and principles
• Regulation of the Internet and the traditional media – principles, similarities and differences
• Emerging regulation of AI and blockchain – principles and controversies
• Designing regulatory landscape: common principles and practices
• National application of key regulatory initiatives – the example of Cyprus

 Specific regulatory challenges

• Regulatory challenge 1: The regulation of platforms and social media – duty of care
  
• UK’s leading regulatory packagez
• New regulation in other selected countries
• The relevance of the regulation to the Cypriot digital and business sector
• Regulatory challenge 2 – Smart contracts
• Electronic contracts – current legal regime in the EU
• Smart contracts and blockchain – emerging regulatory approaches and challenges
• Practical implications of the electronic and smart contract law for digital businesses, consumers and regulators in Cyprus

Training Style

The programme is designed to deliver knowledge and enhance participants’ skills using a variety of learning methods. The programme includes short lectures supported by power-point presentations and handouts that aim to explain the main principles and issues while providing the ground for in-depth analysis and debate.

 Participants will have the opportunity to pose questions and further discuss during the Q&A section of the seminar. They will also benefit from group work, where they will be called to brainstorm and offer their views for the matters discussed.

Trainer

Edina Harbinja

Edina is a Senior Lecturer in Media and Privacy Law at Aston Law School in the UK. Her principal areas of research and teaching are related to the legal issues surrounding the Internet and emerging technologies. Edina is a pioneer and a globally recognised expert in post-mortem privacy, i.e. privacy of the deceased individuals. Her research has a policy and multidisciplinary focus and aims to explore different options of regulation of online behaviours and phenomena, including privacy and data protection, IP, contract law, property and succession. She has published widely on aspects of internet law and regulation, and has been a visiting scholar and invited speaker to universities and conferences in the USA, Latin America and Europe. Her research has been highly impactful and has been cited by legislators, courts and policymakers in the US, Australia and Europe. Edina also regularly engages with the media, and her key appearances include the BBC Tomorrow’s World, BBC Ideas, ABC, The Law Society Gazette, The Legal Practice Management Magazine etc. Edina holds a number of appointments and memberships outside Aston Law School. This includes, inter alia, membership of the Advisory Council at Open Rights Group, Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, membership of the Executive Committee, British and Irish Law, Education and Technology Association (BILETA). Edina is also an alumna of the Leadership Foundation’s Aurora programme and the UK Digital Economy Ambassador, as a part of the CHERISH-DE Digital Economy Crucible Programme, Swansea University. She is a peer reviewer for a number of IT law journals. Edina is one of the chief editors of the EUP book series ‘Future Law’, and has been invited to guest edit two journals in the area of technology and law so far.