The rapid evolution of technology—driven by social media, artificial intelligence, and increasing global interconnectedness—has reshaped how individuals and societies communicate. While these advancements have unlocked new avenues for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation, they have also introduced critical challenges related to privacy, data security, misinformation, surveillance, and regulatory oversight.

Social media platforms have redefined interaction, empowering expression and commerce while raising concerns about misinformation, hate speech, and algorithmic bias. Legal systems worldwide continue to grapple with striking a balance between free speech and responsible regulation, as seen in landmark cases like Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India (2015), which led to the striking down of Section 66A of the IT Act. Similarly, the growing emphasis on data privacy has positioned personal information as a key asset in the digital economy. The Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India (2017) judgment recognized privacy as a fundamental right, influencing the enactment of India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and aligning with global frameworks such as the EU’s GDPR.

While AI continues to drive transformation across industries, it also brings ethical and legal challenges, including biases in decision-making, workforce disruptions, and accountability gaps. Navigating these complexities requires a multidisciplinary approach considering the intersection of technology, law, and society.

This conference aims to bring together legal scholars, technologists, policymakers, and industry practitioners to critically examine these pressing issues. By fostering interdisciplinary discussions, it seeks to contribute to the evolving discourse on governance, ethics, and the responsible use of technology in the 21st century.

The Center for Post Graduate Legal Studies (CPGLS) at the UPES School of Law is a hub for advanced legal education and research, designed to equip students with the expertise required to navigate the evolving legal landscape. Through specialized postgraduate programs, CPGLS integrates rigorous academics with global best practices, ensuring graduates are prepared for both academia and industry.

CPGLS offers a diverse range of specializations tailored to contemporary legal challenges:

• Corporate and Commercial Law – covering corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and financial regulations.
• Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) – focusing on arbitration, mediation, and negotiation techniques.
• Intellectual Property Laws – addressing patents, copyrights, trademarks, and legal aspects of digital innovation.
• Environmental and Energy Laws – tackling climate change, sustainability, and energy policies.
• Cybersecurity and Digital Laws – providing expertise in data protection, cybersecurity frameworks, AI regulations, and digital transactions.

Beyond academic excellence, CPGLS serves as a platform for thought leadership in legal education. Through conferences and research initiatives, it fosters discussions on critical legal issues emerging from technological advancements—such as AI ethics, data privacy, misinformation, and global regulatory frameworks. By engaging with scholars, industry leaders, and policymakers, CPGLS contributes to shaping a forward-thinking legal ecosystem for an interconnected, technology-driven world.

At the digital crossroads, the interplay between communication, law, and society demands thoughtful reflection and proactive governance. Therefore, this conference seeks to bring together legal scholars, technologists, policymakers, and practitioners:

• To examine the transformative role of social media, artificial intelligence, and global interconnectedness in reshaping communication and societal norms.
• To encourage interdisciplinary dialogue to address pressing concerns such as privacy, data protection, misinformation, surveillance, algorithmic bias, and accountability in the digital age.
• To discuss the role of legal systems and policies in balancing innovation, ethical safeguards, and public interests, with insights from global benchmarks like GDPR and the EU AI Act.
• To bring together legal scholars, technologists, policymakers, and practitioners to exchange ideas, share experiences, and develop comprehensive solutions to digital-era challenges.
• To chart actionable pathways for building a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable digital landscape through proactive governance and innovation.

The above list is indicative, and authors are encouraged to submit abstracts on other relevant topics as well.
The three best papers, selected from all themes, will be awarded special recognition.

Who should attend the Conference?
To achieve the objectives outlined, the conference invites participation from a diverse set of stakeholders, including but not limited to:

• Academics and Researchers
• Legal Professionals
• Technologists and Innovators
• Government Representatives
• Media Practitioners
• Civil Society Organizations
• Post Graduate Students and Emerging Scholars

• Abstract: An abstract of 350 words (excluding 4-5 keywords), on the above-mentioned themes, are invited, and submitted as Word (.doc/.docx) documents.
   
• Full Paper: 
  • Length: Papers should be between 4000 and 6000 words (excluding footnotes).
  • Font Size and Style: Kindly use Times New Roman 12 point for the main text and 10 point for footnotes.
  • Headings: The heading should be used as per the following style:
    First heading: 14 pt, Bold, Center
    Second heading: 12 pt, Bold, Left aligned
    Third heading: 12 pt, Italics, Centre
  • Line Spacing: The line spacing of the main text of the paper should be 1.5. The line spacing words between footnotes should be 1.
  • Indent: Left and Right indent should be 0.5 on both sides.
  • References: OSCOLA 4th Edition.
  • Quotations/ Quotation Mark: Quotations over 25 words should be indented. Double quotation marks should be used; single quotation marks should be used only for quotes within a quotation.
  • The submission should be the original work of the authors and must not be published elsewhere. The papers shall not exceed 10% similarity under any anti-plagiarism detection software.
  • The submissions must be accompanied by a cover letter bearing the following information that is full name of the authors, designation of the authors, institutional affiliations and contact details of the authors.
  • Authors may be expected to revise their abstracts and research paper submissions based on reviews and comments received from the organizing team.
  • All authors need to register separately for the conference.

Note: A Book of Abstracts with an ISBN will be published, and selected papers will be featured in a journal or an edited volume by a reputed publisher.

Dr. Charu Srivastava: 91-7500965323
Dr. Manika Kamthan: 91-9899337185
Dr. Hardik Daga: 91-8984489950 
Ms. Priyanka Choudhary: 91-9953741547
E-Mail: upessolconf2025@ddn.upes.ac.in