Digital technology, crime, and the law conference 2025

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For any further questions, please contact Kitty at kitty.lo@manchester.ac.uk.

His Honour Judge Mark Halliwell, Business and Property Courts, Manchester

His Honour Judge Halliwell was appointed as a Specialist Civil Circuit Judge in the Business and Property Courts in Manchester in 2018. He was called to the Bar in 1985. Until June 2018, he practised from chambers in Manchester specialising in business and property litigation and commercial litigation. He was appointed to sit as a Recorder in 2018. He is the author of “Distribution on Intestacy” (FT Law and Tax) (2002).

His Honour Judge Mark Cawson, Business and Property Courts, Manchester

His Honour Judge Cawson KC is a Specialist Circuit Judge based primarily in Manchester. He is authorised to sit in all the courts of the Business and Property Courts, as well as in the Administrative Court.

He graduated in law from the University of Liverpool. He was called to the Bar in 1982, and practiced from Chambers in Manchester and London until 2020, taking Silk in 2001. His practice encompassed a broad range of Chancery and Commercial work. His is a former Junior of the Northern Circuit and Chair of the NCCBA and the NChBA.

He was appointed as an Assistant Recorder in 1998, and as a Recorder in 2000. He was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2004, and as a full time Specialist Circuit Judge, sitting in the Business and Property Courts in Manchester and London, with effect from 30 November 2020.

The AI Act under the lens of European constitutionalism

The EU Artificial Intelligence Act marks a global first in regulating AI through a risk-based approach, distinguishing between unacceptable, high, limited, and systemic risks. This keynote explores how the Act transitions from algorithmic automation to machine autonomy, raising critical questions for constitutional democracies.

While the AI Act affirms transparency and fundamental rights, its reliance on self-assessment tools like the Fundamental Rights Impact Assessment risks weakening enforcement and judicial oversight. Ambiguities in definitions, the limited scope of obligations for general-purpose AI, and the absence of clear accountability mechanisms challenge its effectiveness.

Set against the broader evolution of European digital regulation—from GDPR to DSA—this keynote will reflect on whether the AI Act truly meets the promises of constitutional coherence, or risks becoming a fragile compromise between innovation and rights protection.

Biography

Oreste Pollicino is Full Professor of Constitutional Law and AI Regulation at Bocconi.

He also teaches courses on GDPR, Digital Constitutionalism and AI Regulation, Law of Public Policy, and is the Director of the LLM in Law of Technology Automated Systems. He is also Co-Director of the research unit RULES, part of the research center Baffi, and President of the Centre on Digital Constitutionalism and Policy (DICOPO), Bruxelles.

He has been appointed Honest Broker by the European Commission for the negotiation and drafting of the ‘European Union Code of Practice on Disinformation’ (2022), still in force. He represented Italy for five years (2020–25) at the European Agency for Fundamental Rights, where he also served as Executive Board Member. He is also Board Member of the Digital Library, Ministry of Culture.

He is currently the Italian expert at the Steering Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights (Council of Europe) and academic member of the EU Plenary Assembly for the first general-purpose AI Code of Practice. In the past, he was a member of the Council of Europe Ad Hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAHAI).

At present, he is the Italian member of the OECD Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence and of the Global Alliance, World Economic Forum.

Speakers for this panel:

• Dr Joseph Lee Nazzini, Reader in Corporate and Financial Law, The University of Manchester (Chair)
• Dr Kuan-Cheng (Louis) Chen, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Imperial College London
• Dr Christopher Anderson, Research Fellow, The University of Manchester
• Dr Richard Banach, Senior Lecturer, The University of Manchester

This panel will examine the fundamentals of quantum computing/quantum technologies, including the concept of quantum supremacy, and how it differs fundamentally from traditional digital computing.

The discussion aims to conceptualise quantum computing in a way that provides frameworks for social scientists across fields such as law, sociology and political economy, to develop their research methods and theoretical approaches. These frameworks will inform academic thinking on the commercialisation of quantum technology and the associated risks of its deployment across critical infrastructure in areas such as finance.

The panel will bring insight from computer scientists, quantum computing engineers, and policymakers specialising in quantum technology. It will look at the direction of travel of quantum advancement, the impact on existing technology and business operations, and the implications for governance models.

Speakers for this panel:

• His Honour Judge Mark Cawson KC, Specialist Circuit Judge, Judiciary (Business and Property Courts) (Chair)
• Banu Gün, Research Assistant (MLaw), University of Zurich
• Dr Nadia Pocher, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Luxembourg
• Professor Georgios Samakovitis, Professor of Financial Technology (FinTech), University of Greenwich
• Dr Paul Gilmour, Senior Lecturer in Economic Crime, Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, University of Portsmouth

The first panel will investigate the intersection of FinTech and financial crime, focusing on illicit activities such as fraud, scams, and money laundering. The panel will explore how digital technology can be integrated into the anti-crime frameworks of financial institutions, enhancing their ability to detect, investigate and prevent crime.

Key areas of discussion will include opportunities for collaboration among stakeholders such as technology developers, data scientists, and law enforcement agencies in order to strengthen digital trust.

Additionally, the panel will identify how the legal framework can act as an enabler, fostering innovative partnerships and supporting the creation of a secure and trustworthy financial ecosystem.

Speakers for this panel:

• Professor Christy, Yachi Chiang, Director of Ocean Sustainable Technologies Governance Center, National Taiwan Ocean University (Chair)
• Professor Scott Shackelford, Professor of Law, Indiana University
• Dr Jochen Dürr, Senior Executive Board Member, SIX Swiss Exchange
• Professor Jakub Harašta, Professor of Law, Masaryk University
• Dr Rachael Ntongho, Lecturer and LLB Programme Director, The University of Manchester

The second panel will focus on the theoretical and practical aspects of cybersecurity, examining how normative frameworks contribute to the development of digital trust, with a particular emphasis on system security and user safety.

Key discussions will focus on identifying governance models, standards, and enforcement regimes that enable public and private entities to develop cohesive and cross-border cybersecurity strategies.

The panel will also explore the challenges involved in developing technological tools to mitigate cybersecurity risk, highlighting gaps and opportunities in current cybersecurity practice. A central theme will be the role of legal mechanisms such as contracts and regulatory frameworks in building an effective cybersecurity architecture.

Speakers for this panel:

• Dr Christopher Anderson, Research Fellow, The University of Manchester (Chair)
• Dr Thomas Le Goff, Assistant Professor of Law & Technology, Institut Polytechnique de Paris
• Dr Øyvind Toftegaard, Senior Security Adviser, Norwegian Energy Regulatory Authority
• Valerie Höß, Head of European Affairs, Commerzbank AG

The third panel will examine how critical infrastructure sectors such as defence, energy, and finance respond to cybercrime and develop their cybersecurity capability. This cross-sectoral discussion will aim to identify shared challenges and strategies.

Key objectives include identifying common cybersecurity themes in the critical infrastructure, analysing the legal and regulatory frameworks that facilitate capability-building, such as EU DORA and the Digital Resilience Act, and highlighting transferable skills that can be further developed for training security professionals.

Speakers for this panel:

• Professor Angie Raymond, Chair of the Department of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University (Chair)
• Mark Farrell, Data Protection Professional, The University of Manchester
• Professor Christy, Yachi Chiang, Director of Ocean Sustainable Technologies Governance Center, National Taiwan Ocean University
• Adrian Neal, CEO, QuStream

This panel will focus on supply chain management for digital technology, examining critical components such as chip governance, data governance (GDPR), and algorithm governance (the EU’s AI Act, China’s AI Law).

The panel will investigate how various liability regimes such as contract law, tort law, and consumer protection law, can enhance the resilience and accountability of technology supply chains.

The panel will also consider the potential for additional regulatory tools and guidance to strengthen supply chain resilience.

Speakers for this panel:

• Dr Paul Gilmour, Senior Lecturer in Economic Crime, Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, University of Portsmouth (Chair)
• Dr Jonathan Davis, Lecturer in Criminology, The University of Manchester
• Dr Aarti Krishnan, Lecturer in Innovation, The University of Manchester
• Dr Beatriz Kira, Assistant Professor in Law, University of Sussex
• Vere Marie Khan, Chief Legal Officer, Zed Labs Limited

The fifth panel will explore the intersection of ESG frameworks such as anti-slavery initiatives, poverty alleviation and online safety, and the development of digital trust frameworks.

The discussion will focus on how the ESG frameworks can be leveraged to develop system security and user safety.

There are two primary objectives. Firstly, how digital technology can enhance ESG outcomes, and identify scenarios where they may fall short. Secondly, it will identify the measures required to achieve the ESG goals while maintaining and strengthening digital trust.

It will focus on three key sectors:

1. The construction industry, particularly ethical labour practices and supply chain transparency, such as under the UK Modern Slavery Act;
2. The agriculture and environmental sector, looking at sustainability, resource management, and equitable access;
3. Platform liability for harmful content, e.g. under the UK Online Safety Act, analysing the role of digital platforms in ensuring online safety and mitigating harm.

Speakers for this panel:

• Professor Scott Shackelford, Professor of Law, Indiana University (Chair)
• Dr Jack Kenny, Lecturer in Public International Law, The University of Manchester, and Research Leader in International Law, British Institute of International and Comparative Law
• Dr Abubakri Yekini, Lecturer in Law, The University of Manchester
• Dr Clara Martins Pereira, Associate Professor of Financial Law and Director for International Development, Durham Law School - Durham University

The sixth panel will examine the role of international law in addressing cross-jurisdictional challenges in the digital age.

The discussion will focus on how international governance frameworks, e.g. UN treaties such as the Treaty of Cybercrime, and international conventions such as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, can facilitate cooperation, resolve conflict, and build trust across borders.

Key topics will include exploring the potential for harmonisation of laws and regulations, identifying practical pathways to achieve alignment, and evaluating the policy objectives that should guide these developments.

The panel will also consider the challenge of balancing national sovereignty against the need for global digital governance.