Proceedings of Scientific Conference. TECHNOLOGY AND LAW
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ISBN 978-619-7768-49-7
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Item CONDUCTING MEDIATION IN AN ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENT – SPECIFICS AND CHALLENGES(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Toshkov, TomislavMediation in an electronic environment is an increasingly relevant method of dispute resolution, especially in the context of the growing digitalization and globalization of business relations. This form of mediation has its own specifics and challenges that distinguish it from traditional methods. Key specifics include flexibility and accessibility, allowing participants to interact regardless of geographical limitations. Technologies such as video conferencing and online communication plat-forms facilitate the process while providing opportunities for quick and efficient dispute resolution. Despite these advantages, electronic mediation also presents a number of challenges, including information security and the protection of personal data. The lack of physical presence can also reduce the effectiveness of communication by making it harder to build trust and an emotional connection between the parties. Another important issue is the adaptation of the legislative framework for the recognition and regulation of agreements reached through online mediation.Item ABOUT THE NEW AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEM OF INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING PROCEEDINGS AND REGULATION (EU) 2015/848 REGARDING INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Alexandrov, AlexanderThe study analyzes the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2015/848 regarding the establishment, objectives, content and consequences of entries in insolvency registers. It also examines the Bulgarian legal framework related to the new auto-mated information system for insolvency and restructuring proceedings at the Minis-try of Justice (Insolvency and Restructuring Register), which is planned to be connected to the European e-Justice Portal. The analysis includes a comparison between the information disclosed through the national insolvency register and that available through the company register regarding insolvency and restructuring proceedings.Item DOCUMENTING VIOLATIONS OF WORKPLACE RULES THROUGH A VIDEO RECORDING(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Radeva, MariaMonitoring workplace discipline through surveillance cameras is no longer an isolated phenomenon. In this regard, the Commission for Personal Data Protection has issued guidelines on the admissibility of video surveillance in the workplace. An analysis of case law shows that, in the past two years alone, a number of labour disputes have relied on video recordings to establish relevant facts. The purpose of this article is to examine how video recordings can be used as evidence in labour disputes, including for establishing violations of workplace discipline.Item IS THE EMPLOYER’S CONTROL BY TECHNICAL MEANS OVER THE EMPLOYEES’ BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING IN AN ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENT ADMISSIBLE AND NECESSARY?(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Aleksandrov, AndreyNew information and communication technologies not only allow but also make it inevitable that an increasing number of work duties are performed online. In this respect, the first regulation of its kind in EU legislation on the working conditions of platform workers (or the so-called Platform Workers Directive) is also indicative. Although beyond the scope of this study, it stands as indisputable proof of the importance of Internet communication today – something that only a few decades ago seemed like science fiction. A huge number of people around the world, including in our country, spend all or almost all of their working time in front of a computer or other electronic device, communicating predominantly with colleagues, managers, and third parties in an electronic environment. This situation necessitates an ongoing discussion about the limits of employer control over employee behaviour online. Formulated more generally, this question can also be put as follows: how far does the employer’s freedom to control his employees by technical means extend?Item LEGAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL FORMS OF CAPITAL AND LABOR IN THE ERA OF VALUE ADDED(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Topleva, SilviyaThe productive application of modern high-level information and communication technologies is transforming the economy, business, the social sphere, and their legal regulation. The economic context of digitalization determines the formation of a new economic system based on value added. The concept of value added refers to generating and obtaining a higher degree of welfare, going beyond the utility, productivity and efficiency of products, services and processes. This concept of value added gradually permeates the sphere of law and leads to the emergence of new legal and organizational forms of capital and labour. The manifestation of the value-added idea in commercial law is linked to the formation of a new legal entity - the variable capital company. Its aim is to encourage the creation of and investment in innovative companies. Partners can structure the statutes to achieve a higher degree of value added for the enterprise and their business idea by taking advantage of capital companies with-out having to endure the accompanying heavier administrative procedures. An expression of this trend in labour law is the institutionalization of the user undertaking figure. The user undertaking represents an emanation of the value-added idea through the productive use of labour power, without bearing the administrative and financial bur-den of employer status. The legal and organizational forms of capital and labour in the era of value added generate many benefits for their users, but they also pose risks for other stakeholders.Item PARTIAL AUTOMATION OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE LICENSE COMPLIANCE(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Slavov, VladimirSoftware is subject to copyright protection. Therefore, in order to use a piece of software, any entity other than the copyright holder must rely on a legal basis, such as a license. Open source software is a specific kind of software which, in some industries, reaches up to 85% of all used software. What distinguishes open source software is the special category of licenses it relies on. These open source licenses grant a broad range of rights to the licensee, but they also require the fulfillment of obligations in certain cases, such as when a copy of the software or a derivative work thereof is distributed to third parties. This creates a necessity for organizations to develop processes that evaluate whether, and to what extent, components under particular open source licenses can be used in certain business con-texts. The more open source software components an organization uses, the greater the need to enhance the process with automation. As a result, the role of legal professionals in this process changes significantly.Item AI, AI ON THE WALL, WHO IS THE BEST AUTHOR OF THEM ALL? INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW CHALLENGES WITH GENERATIVE AI(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Hristov, GeorgiThis paper explores the implications of the emergence and widespread application of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on intellectual property law. The work is structured in three main parts. The first part introduces key technological concepts involved in building generative AI models, focusing primarily on large language models, in order to highlight the most relevant issues affecting IP Law. The second part addresses the question of whether AI models can be considered authors, viewed through the lens of both computer science and existing legal systems. The third part outlines the prospects for a potential reform of copyright law in response to the creation of AI-generated works.Item MEDICAL LIABILITY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: HOW TORT LAW MAY AFFECT THE USE OF AUTOMATED DEVICES(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Guido Grasso, AlfioThe field of medicine is among the areas most heavily affected by the development and application of artificial intelligence. However, this advancement raises ethical and legal issues that are difficult to resolve, especially in cases of harm caused by medical devices capable of autonomous decision-making. In assessing the behaviour of a physician who has used a faulty robotic or diagnostic medical device, the level of control over the device and the accuracy with which the patient has been informed are relevant. These difficulties must also be considered in light of recent legislative proposals in the European context, which seek to address the phenomenon of artificial intelligence from an integrated perspective – both by establishing the requirements it must meet in order to minimise the risk of harm, and from an ex post perspective to better address harm produced. The precision and accuracy of these devices must not be overlooked, and their supervised development should also be promoted through appropriate and targeted liability rules, rather than merely repressive ones.Item LEGAL PROTECTION OF A DOMAIN NAME(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Topurov, PetarThe publication explores the legal protection of domain names in the context of their possession based on a legitimate title. It analyzes the concept of a domain name and the legal nature of the rights associated with its registration, as well as the mechanisms provided by the legal system to resolve disputes between parties asserting competing claims to a given domain name. The focus is placed on the preliminary checks during the registration process, subsequent arbitration procedures, judicial remedies, and actions before the Commission on Protection of Competition. The study concludes that there exists a broad range of legal remedies available to affected parties, while also emphasizing the need for a clear regulatory framework grounded in explicit principles governing the legal protection of domain name rights.Item TECHNOLOGIES AND THE LAW OF OBLIGATIONS (TWO ILLUSTRATIONS)(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Mitev, KrassimirThe article examines the influence of technological development on the Law of Obligations, taking as an example two of its basic institutions: formation of contract and [the concept of] obligation. Since the late 20th century, internet technologies have become the primary medium for communication, allowing the rapid transmission of messages containing vast amounts of information. Has this technology influenced the regulation of contract formation? The last decade has seen the expansion of blockchain technology, which supports the distributed recording of encrypted data. This environment is dominated by computer programs that, under pre-defined conditions, automatically perform pre-defined actions (so-called ‘smart contracts’). But what is the role of the legal concept of obligation – the binding legal relationship that compels the debtor to render performance to the creditor – within this computerized space?Item ON THE NEED FOR REFORM IN THE SYSTEM OF PUNISHMENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Ranchev, IvanThis report examines certain issues related to the system of sanctions in Bulgarian criminal law that necessitate reform. Attention is given to the need to abolish the most severe punishment – life imprisonment without parole; to the alarming trends regarding the most frequently imposed punishment - imprisonment; to the underestimated importance of probation, property sanctions, and deprivation of rights; as well as to the lack of relevance, under modern conditions, of the lightest form of punishment – public censure.Item THE APPLICATION OF COMPUTER SIMULATION IN CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATIVE EXPERIMENT(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Torlozov, KristiyanThe mode of economy when performing investigative actions is related to the professionalism of persons performing investigative actions, the participation of the necessary specialists to perform investigative actions, and the technical means that facilitate the conduct of the investigative experiment. During the investigative experiment, not only the reproduction of any phenomenon or fact is carried out, but also the production of actions similar to those under investigation, and the creation of a model of a fact, event, or phenomenon. By using computer-generated simulations of the situation at the scene of the accident, significant state resources can be saved in the investigation of crimes, while advanced technology at the same time provides a significant guarantee of revealing the objective truth.Item A GIFT OR ANY OTHER UNDUE BENEFIT TO THE OFFICIAL UNDER ART. 301, PARA. 1 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Koseva, DarinaThe object of passive bribery under Art. 301, para. 1 of the Criminal Code is defined in the disposition of the legal norm as ‘a gift or any undue benefit’ to the official. The analysis of the provision under Art. 301, para. 1 of the Criminal Code presupposes conclusions regarding the specifics of the object of passive bribery – the gift is considered a bribe, which is different from the benefit. Unlike the gift, the benefit is subject to a regulatory requirement to be undue, and it is defined as ‘any’ benefit (both material and immaterial in nature). The development of technologies and the diversity of immaterial benefits in the modern world pose a number of challenges to those interpreting and applying the legal framework on bribery – the lack of clear criteria for distinguishing a gift from a benefit, the difficulty in determining the monetary value of immaterial benefits, the issue of their suitability, the hypothesis of accepting such benefits, the impossibility of confiscating immaterial benefits under Art. 307a of the Criminal Code, and the inability of such benefits to serve as revealing circumstances of an act under Art. 301, para. 1 of the Criminal Code.Item PROTOCOL UNDER ARTICLE 50 OF THE TAX AND SOCIAL INSURANCE PROCEDURE CODE(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Petrov, NedyalkoThis report examines the role of the protocol under Article 50 of the Tax and Social Insurance Procedure Code in proving facts in tax proceedings. It analyzes the individual elements of the protocol and their significance for establishing facts and circumstances in the process. An analysis of the evidential strength of the protocol is conducted, taking into account the requirements for its preparation and the implications of missing elements. Attention is also given to the drafting of a protocol when collecting data from technical media. Additionally, the preparation of a protocol for securing evidence is discussed.Item CRYPTOCURRENCIES AND THEIR TAXATION(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Yanev, PetarThis study examines the most frequently raised questions regarding the taxation of income from trading cryptocurrencies by individuals or legal entities. Attention is given to the methods of income declaration, as well as the legal framework regulating public relations related to cryptocurrency trading. The legislation of some Member States of the European Union is analyzed, and a comparative legal review is made between the different aspects within these countries.Item TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE MEDICINE IF THE FUTURE – LEGAL ASPECTS(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Ilieva, AntoniaIn modern society, technological innovations and advancements have occupied a leading place from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. The most tangible innovations in technology are registered in health care, pharmacy, administrative activity, the automotive industry, architectural planning, housing construction, energy, etc. The Covid-19 pandemic and the pressure of the spread of the virus worldwide strained health systems to the limit. The restrictive measures that were introduced suspended the scheduled admission of patients, surgical interventions, as well as overall access to medical and health facilities. The conclusions reached by health authorities worldwide, after the peak of the pandemic has passed, can be summarized as follows - there is an urgent need to introduce accelerated digitization of the health system, regulatory measures, and the active introduction of telemedicine into the health system, as well as the implementation of digital health technologies that would have a positive impact on the monitoring of patients with chronic conditions. Undoubtedly, their implementation would lead to a reduction in costs and an increase in access to health services.Item DATA TRANSFER IN THE EU AND TOWARDS THIRD COUNTRIES(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Al-Shargabi, Zhanin; Uchkunov, NikolaThe protection of personal data stands out as one of the most pressing topics of the last decade. The issue of its processing and transfer is multifaceted, and protecting personal data is not only the responsibility of states, which must safeguard the fundamental rights of their citizens, but also requires a more comprehensive review of the obligations imposed on the private sector. While relative clarity has emerged in recent years regarding practices at the national and European levels, the issue of data transfers to third countries is still open. This paper aims to examine the applicable data protection standards at European level, as well as the practices concerning data transfers to third countries. There is ongoing concern about whether other jurisdictions with close economic relations with Europe, such as the US, China, Saudi Arabia, etc., maintain sufficiently strict regimes to protect users’ personal information. How, then, should a data controller proceed when transferring data to partners in a third country to provide service? What are the hidden risks associated with new technologies, such as cloud services, where data transfers may not be fully traceable? This paper will address these and other relevant questions. Last but not least, building on existing legislative initiatives, the paper will also propose a standard for data protection in transfers to third countries.Item REDEFINING THE EU APPROACH TO REGULATING DIGITAL AND MEDIA SERVICES(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Yurukova, MariyaThe persistent, rapid pace of development of new technologies and the increasing use of digital services in people’s everyday life have placed the law in a constantly reactive position. In recent years, in the search for a balance between managing digital space and protecting the right to freedom of expression, the European Union has undertaken a series of ambitious new legislative reforms. Their main goal is to ensure an adequate informational environment in the digital age – one that fosters technological innovation and, by extension, economic growth, while simultaneously upholding the public interest and the fundamental rights of European citizens. This report advances the central hypothesis that the European Union is introducing a more centralized approach to the regulation of both digital and media services, with the dual aims of harmonising the internal market and mitigating legal fragmentation across Member States. The analysis focuses on the Digital Services Act and the European Media Freedom Act, seeking to elucidate the EU’s regulatory approach in these do-mains. The report highlights critical parallels between the two legislative instruments, particularly regarding their implementation mechanisms, including the establishment of new supranational regulatory bodies. Furthermore, it examines the opportunities and challenges arising from this regulatory paradigm, with particular emphasis on its implications for foundational EU principles, such as subsidiarity.Item INTERNATIONAL TREATIES CONCLUDED THROUGH DIGITAL MEANS: EXAMPLES AND PERSPECTIVES(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Bakyov, GeorgiThe digitization of international treaty-making has introduced a new dynamic to global diplomacy, enabling states and organizations to conclude agreements far more effectively through electronic means. This report examines notable examples of international treaties concluded digitally, focusing on the legal, technical and operational implications of such agreements. Furthermore, it explores future perspectives on the role of digital platforms in facilitating international cooperation and the potential challenges they pose.Item DATASETS UNVEILED: CHALLENGES IN TRAINING AI FOR THE SECURITY DOMAIN(Plovdiv University Press, 2025-12-15) Dimitrov, George; Kozhuharova, DenitsaThe rapid evolution of technology, and the recently adopted legal frame-work at the European Union level, poses significant challenges for both deployers and providers of AI-based systems. Ensuring the quality of datasets used to train artificial intelligence is crucial for meeting the requirements of robustness, transparency, and accuracy. It is essential to verify the origin and method of collection or creation of these datasets, as well as the mechanisms though which they are used to train AI models. These steps are mandatory to ensure the ethical and legally compliant development of AI systems. In the security domain, AI-based systems are increasingly employed by law enforcement agencies for operational purposes and the maintenance of public order. These systems are often classified as high-risk due to their substantial impact on individual privacy, particularly through profiling and the use of big data (point 6, Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2024/1689). Therefore, it is imperative to ensure data protection by design and to establish appropriate legal requirements for the development of such software.