The FORESIGHT Project is funded under the Horizon Europe programme and focuses on the development of advanced technological solutions for civil protection and disaster response. The project explores innovative tools such as drones, sensors, imaging systems and situational awareness technologies, with the aim of supporting first responders in complex and hazardous environments.

The workshop in Izmir was organised in preparation for the upcoming field tests in Athens and Germany. Through a Table-Top Exercise, the consortium simulated the coordination of a large wildland and urban fire incident, allowing partners to test, evaluate and further prepare the technological solutions developed within the project.

Within this context, our contribution focuses on the integration of societal, ethical and legal requirements, as well as privacy and security considerations, into the development and testing of FORESIGHT technologies.

The responsible use of innovation in civil protection requires more than technical effectiveness. It also requires legal compliance, transparency, proportionality, security, accountability and respect for fundamental rights.

Participation in the Izmir workshop provided a valuable opportunity for exchange between project partners, technical teams and relevant stakeholders, contributing to the preparation of the next phases of the project and to the promotion of responsible and trustworthy technological innovation in the field of civil protection.

The article examines the legal framework governing political communication where personal data are used, taking as a starting point the “email-gate” case, Decision 16/2024 of the Hellenic Data Protection Authority, recent judicial developments, and the full application of Regulation (EU) 2024/900 on the transparency and targeting of political advertising.

The key point of the article is that political communication is not an informal activity operating outside legal rules. Any political figure, political party or organisation using personal data for the purpose of sending political communications must be able, before any such communication is sent, to document:

• the source of the data and whether that source is lawful,
• the legal basis selected and documented before the processing takes place,
• whether the recipient has been informed about the sender’s identity, the purpose of the communication, the source of the data and their rights,
• whether an easy and effective mechanism to object or unsubscribe is available.

Following the “email-gate” case, compliance in political communication is no longer merely a matter of good practice. It is a matter of legal responsibility, with potential administrative, criminal and civil liability implications.

You can read the full article in NOMIKI BIBLIOTHIKI Daily [In Greek].

The discussion focused on the new legal framework introduced by Law 5256/2025, the use of Artificial Intelligence systems for traffic violation detection, the compliance requirements under the GDPR and the AI Act, as well as broader issues relating to transparency, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights.

The deployment of surveillance technologies in public spaces highlights the importance of maintaining an appropriate balance between road safety, technological innovation, and the effective protection of individuals’ rights and freedoms.

We warmly thank Homo Digitalis for the invitation and the excellent organization of the event, as well as all participants for the meaningful discussion and exchange of views.

Background of the Case

The case concerned the publication of a false online advertisement containing personal data without the data subject’s consent. The CJEU was asked to clarify whether the operator of an online platform may qualify as a controller and to define the scope of its obligations in such circumstances.

Key Findings

In its judgment, the Court:

• broadened the concept of controller, confirming that platforms may qualify as joint controllers together with their users,
• further specified the obligations arising from Articles 24, 25 and 32 GDPR,
• introduced enhanced ex ante compliance obligations, and
• ruled out the applicability of hosting safe harbour exemptions in the context of GDPR infringements.

Practical Implications

The judgment marks a clear shift from the traditional notice-and-takedown approach towards a model of proactive compliance.

In practice, digital service providers are expected to:

• integrate privacy by design mechanisms at the development stage of their services,
• implement tools for identifying and managing content involving personal data,
• strengthen user identification and risk management processes, and
• reassess their overall GDPR compliance strategies.

This development is expected to have a significant impact on marketplaces, content-sharing platforms and digital service providers more broadly.

During the event, we delivered a presentation titled “AI Risk Management: The DPO’s Roadmap for the Next Day”, addressing the regulatory and practical challenges arising from the increasing deployment of Artificial Intelligence systems.

The presentation focused in particular on:

• the interplay between the AI Act and the existing GDPR framework,
• the identification and management of risks associated with AI systems, including bias, automated decision-making, and misuse,
• the evolving role of the Data Protection Officer (DPO) as a key pillar of effective AI governance,
• as well as the importance of compliance and accountability tools such as the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and the Fundamental Rights Impact Assessment (FRIA).

As Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in the operations of both private and public sector organizations, compliance is no longer merely a legal obligation, but a critical enabler of trust, transparency, and responsible innovation.

At SGK Legal, we closely monitor developments in data protection and AI regulation, supporting organizations in building robust compliance and governance frameworks.

We would like to thank the organizers for the invitation and all participants for the insightful exchange of views.

]]> https://sgklegal.gr/en/ai-risk-management-and-the-role-of-the-dpo-presentation-at-dpos-night/feed/ 0 https://sgklegal.gr/en/smart-contracts-kai-blockchain-legal-issues-and-practical-applications/ https://sgklegal.gr/en/smart-contracts-kai-blockchain-legal-issues-and-practical-applications/#respond Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:58:34 +0000 https://sgklegal.gr/?p=1912 Stergios Konstantinou, Head of Stergios Konstantinou & Associates Law Office – SGKLegal, will participate as a speaker in the seminar “Smart Contracts”, organized by the Themistocles and Dimitris Tsatsos Foundation – Centre for European Constitutional Law.

📅 24 March 2026
🕕 18:00 – 21:00

The seminar will examine the concept, structure, and operation of smart contracts, as well as the key legal issues arising from their use in digital environments.

The discussion will focus on the interaction between blockchain technologies and existing legal frameworks, addressing topics such as the legal nature of smart contracts, enforceability challenges, and their practical applications in modern commercial transactions and digital services.

🔗 More information and registration:

The event brought together consortium partners, the EU Project Officer, and the external reviewer to showcase progress and demonstrate how digital technologies can transform mining operations towards greater safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

During the live demonstrations, several advanced solutions were presented, including:

🔬 Laser-based air quality analyzers enabling real-time environmental monitoring
👓 Augmented Reality tools enhancing situational awareness for operators
🚜 Remote-controlled systems supporting safer operation of heavy machinery
🌬️ Ventilation on Demand technologies for intelligent airflow management
🚁 Heavy-lifter drones equipped with environmental sensors
🔗 Middleware platforms enabling integration between multiple technologies
🛡️ Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) systems for complex industrial sites

Stergios Konstantinou, Head of SGKLegal, participated in the meeting together with Eva Pitsi, representing MPLegal, presenting the work led by Alexandra Ziaka on the legal, regulatory, ethical, and GDPR framework supporting the NetHelix project.

This contribution ensures that technological innovation within NetHelix evolves in line with EU law, data protection requirements, and responsible innovation principles.

Congratulations to all NetHelix consortium partners for their excellent collaboration, and many thanks to Metlen Energy & Metals for hosting the demonstrations.

Our contribution focused on the legal and regulatory dimension of smart city projects, with particular emphasis on data protection challenges arising from the deployment of Artificial Intelligence systems in urban environments.

Smart cities are not merely ambitious technological initiatives. They are governance frameworks that directly affect fundamental rights. The use of AI in critical urban functions — such as traffic management and public service delivery — creates significant opportunities for sustainability and accessibility. At the same time, it raises substantial data protection concerns that must be addressed from the design phase.

At SGK Legal, we firmly believe that urban innovation must be grounded in privacy by design, regulatory compliance and institutional accountability. The sustainable city of tomorrow cannot be built without robust legal safeguards and responsible AI governance.

We sincerely thank the organizers for the invitation and the opportunity to contribute to an important dialogue on the future of our cities.

This contribution forms part of our firm’s ongoing engagement with data protection, digital regulation, and emerging technologies, and reflects our commitment to active participation in legal discourse and the provision of modern, highly specialised legal services.

We would like to warmly thank Ms Alexianna Tsotsou and NOMIKI BIBLIOTHIKI Daily for the invitation and the collaboration.

The full article is available here: https://daily.nb.org/focus/o-gdpr-allazei-i-epomeni-mera-gia-tin-prostasia-tis-idiotikotitas-i-matia-tis-nomikis-koinotitas-sto-nb-daily/