Workshop on Interleaving Legal and Technology Aspects – Regulation Blocks (LEGAL)

Scope

The new regulatory framework primarily targets data usage in Europe, along with AI and machine learning (AI/ML) data processing systems. This presents new challenges for developers and software producers. The workshop aims to shed light on the obstacles and pitfalls within the newly proposed or recently adopted European regulations and directives, such as the AI/ML regulation, the Data Act, and other developments in the legal and regulatory landscape related to information technology (IT).One of the main focuses of the workshop will be to explore the impact of regulations like the GDPR, Data Act, AI Act, MICA and DORA, and their consequences for blockchain technologies and AI/ML. 

Another focus will be on technical solutions to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with laws, directives, and regulations at both the EU and member state levels. The workshop will provide a forum for discussing technological approaches, such as smart contract web services, and the appropriate architectures needed to meet regulatory requirements and IT constraints.


Topics

  • Understanding the New Regulatory Frameworks:  
    • This includes the Digital Services Act (DSA), Digital Markets Act (DMA), Data Act (DA), Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA), Artificial Intelligence Liability Directive (AILD), Open Data Directive (ODD), Digital Governance Act (DGA), Non-Personal Data Regulation (NPDR), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and E-Privacy Regulation.
  • Intersections of Regulatory Frameworks and Digital Identity
    • Exploring the regulatory challenges associated with implementing decentralized digital identity services.
    • Analyzing how trust services under eIDAS 2.0 can aid in achieving regulatory compliance for AI and machine learning (ML) training and validation.
    • Utilizing verifiable credentials as mechanisms for AI and ML provenance.
    • Examining the legal and technical roles of selective disclosure protocols in ensuring compliance.
  • Data Governance
    • Comparing EU "data spaces" with regulations, with a particular focus on blockchain technology.
  • Sandboxes for FinTech:
    • Exploring blockchain, blockchain-focused technologies (BFT), and innovative financial services.
  • Challenges of the AI Act and Cyber-Resilience Act:
    • Examining the implications of the AI Act and the effects of GDPR on blockchain and AI developments.
    • The software implementation through design for compliance and resilient.
  • Tool Sets and Approaches:  
    • Identifying tools and methodologies within blockchain, IT, Enterprise Architecture, and Business Process Management and Modeling to ensure compliance with regulations.
  • Application of Blockchain Technologies:
    • Investigating the use of blockchain technologies within an enterprise environment and its integration into Enterprise Architecture.
  • Application of Distributed Applications (DApps) and Distributed Intelligence Applications (DIapps), Autonomous AI Agents:
    • Exploring their implementation in various sectors, including finance, agriculture, manufacturing, and more.
    • Generative AI methods, blockchain, and DApps in organizations and enterprises.
  • Auditing for Compliance:  
    • Evaluating DApps and DIapps for regulatory compliance.
    • Certification, auditing methods for smart contracts.
    • Zero knowledge proofs for AI verification
  • Governance and Coordination:
    • DAO based governance of AI systems
    • Decentralized model validation
    • On-chain governance for AI updates
    • Trust and reputation mechanisms
    • Distributed consensus for AI agent coordination

       

Organizing Committee

  • Bálint Molnár – Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary)

Program Committee

  • Simon Thompson – Kent University (UK)
  • Imre Kocsis – Budapest University of Technology and Economics (Hungary)
  • Andrea Huszti – University of Debrecen (Hungary)
  • Péter Báldy – Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary)
  • László Gönczy – Budapest University of Technology and Economics (Hungary)

General deadlines

  • Deadline

    17th April, 2026

  • Workshop deadline

    17th April, 2026

  • Doctoral Consortium deadline

    24th April, 2026

  • Notification of acceptance

    19th June, 2026

  • Camera-Ready papers

    15th July, 2026

  • Conference Celebration

    21st-23rd October, 2026

Submission

All proposed papers must be submitted in electronic form (PDF format) using the BLOCKCHAIN conference management system.