Agreement technologies refer to a novel paradigm for the construction of distributed intelligent systems, where autonomous software agents negotiate to reach agreements on behalf of their human users. Smart Cities are a key application domain for agreement technologies. While several proofs of concept and prototypes exist, such systems are still far from ready for being deployed in the real-world. In this paper we focus on a novel method for managing elements of smart road infrastructures of the future, namely the case (...) of auction-based road intersections. We show that, even though the key technological elements for such methods are already available, there are multiple non-technical issues that need to be tackled before they can be applied in practice. For this purpose, we analyse legal and ethical implications of auction-based road intersections in the context of international regulations and from the standpoint of the Spanish legislation. From this exercise, we extract a set of required modifications, of both technical and legal nature, which need to be addressed so as to pave the way for the potential real-world deployment of such systems in a future that may not be too far away. (shrink)

This paper discusses two of the main theories regarding the right to resistance: first, that the right to resistance is that of resistance against injustice; and secondly, that the right to resistance is the original, or most basic of all rights. The analysis provides a characterization of the nature of the right to resistance, that is, whether it is a moral right or a properly legal right. On the other hand, we raise the question as to whether the right to (...) resistance can even be considered a fundamental and/or original right. We also look at the role of this right in a lawless state as opposed to a state governed by the rule of law. Thus, the paper concludes with an examination of the conception of resistance in a state governed by the rule of law, by means of a small-coin right of resistance. (shrink)