Research Articles

The many shades of open banking: A comparative analysis of rationales and models

Giuseppe Colangelo, University of Basilicata
Pankhudi Khandelwal, European University Institute
PUBLISHED ON: 22 Jan 2025 DOI: 10.14763/2025.1.1821

Despite its growing success and widespread adoption around the world, open banking (OB) struggles to present a coherent identity. Since OB is driven by various justifications, identifying the primary motivations behind regulatory initiatives is crucial for assessing whether the implemented features align with the intended policy objectives.

Between the cracks: Blind spots in regulating media concentration and platform dependence in the EU

Theresa Josephine Seipp, University of Amsterdam
Natali Helberger, University of Amsterdam
Claes de Vreese, University of Amsterdam
Jef Ausloos, University of Amsterdam
PUBLISHED ON: 14 Nov 2024 DOI: 10.14763/2024.4.1813

The DSA, DMA, and EMFA aim to regulate platform power over digital services and markets while establishing rules to protect media freedom, pluralism, and editorial independence, notably through efforts to address media concentration; however, they seem to overlook some of the underlying causes driving these concentration threats.

Introduction to the special issue on AI systems for the public interest

Theresa Züger, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society
Hadi Asghari, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society
PUBLISHED ON: 30 Sep 2024 DOI: 10.14763/2024.3.1802

As the debate on public interest AI is still a young and emerging one, we see this special issue as a way to help establish this field and its community by bringing together interdisciplinary positions and approaches.

News and Opinion Pieces

Automating security? The redesign of air passenger data connectivity across Europe

Rocco Bellanova, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Matthias Leese, ETH Zurich
Rosamunde van Brakel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vanessa Ugolini, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

PUBLISHED ON: 26 Feb 2025

This op-ed calls for more scholarly attention on the nexus between automation and European security. Building on recent regulatory developments in algorithmic traveller security, the authors argue that the automation of seemingly mundane practices requires a closer consideration of data connectivity and its societal and regulatory implications.

The violence of the majority: Rethinking AI positionality in decision-making

Mennatullah Hendawy, Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS)

PUBLISHED ON: 13 Jan 2025

Mennatullah Hendawy critically examines how AI systems often perpetuate societal inequities by prioritising majority perspectives, marginalising underrepresented groups. Drawing from examples like predictive policing and agricultural tools in the Global South, she underscores the importance of considering the positionality of AI creators.

(Un)disclosed brand partnerships: How platform policies and interfaces shape commercial content for influencers

Taylor Annabell, Utrecht University
Laura Aade, University of Luxembourg
Catalina Goanta, Utrecht University
PUBLISHED ON: 15 Nov 2024 DOI: 10.14763/2024.4.1814

This paper analyses how platform policies and interfaces of TikTok, YouTube, Snap, and Instagram shape commercial content for influencers and the legal duty to disclose such content under European consumer law.

AI-generated journalism: Do the transparency provisions in the AI Act give news readers what they hope for?

Stanislaw Piasecki, University of Amsterdam
Sophie Morosoli, University of Amsterdam
Natali Helberger, University of Amsterdam
Laurens Naudts, University of Amsterdam
PUBLISHED ON: 23 Oct 2024 DOI: 10.14763/2024.4.1810

This article evaluates how to reconcile AI Act’s Art. 50 transparency provisions applicable to AI-generated text with news readers’ perceptions of manipulation and empowerment.

In this study, we developed a consumer survey to investigate the extent to which legislation can (and should) keep up with existing and changing social and ethical norms regarding the use of data for personalising online prices.

Accountability protocols? On-chain dynamics in blockchain governance

Kelsie Nabben, European University Institute
Primavera De Filippi, National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS)
PUBLISHED ON: 8 Oct 2024 DOI: 10.14763/2024.4.1807

This paper focuses on the dynamics of accountability in blockchain governance. Drawing on a case study of the Lido protocol on Ethereum, it explores the rule of code, on-chain accountability, accountability trade-offs, and the complexities of determining when accountability can be better instantiated via on-chain or off-chain mechanisms.

Balancing public interest, fundamental rights, and innovation: The EU’s governance model for non-high-risk AI systems

Michael Gille, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Marina Tropmann-Frick, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Thorben Schomacker, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
PUBLISHED ON: 30 Sep 2024 DOI: 10.14763/2024.3.1797

The article takes an in-depth look at the AI Act’s governance approach to non-high-risk AI systems and provides a multi-perspective analysis of the challenges that the EU’s regulation of AI brings about.

Balancing efficiency and public interest: The impact of AI automation on social benefit provision in Brazil

Maria Alejandra Nicolás, Federal University of Latin American Integration
Rafael Cardoso Sampaio, Federal University of Paraná
PUBLISHED ON: 30 Sep 2024 DOI: 10.14763/2024.3.1799

The Brazilian Social Security Management Office's AI system reduces the waiting list but increases automatic refusals, harming beneficiaries and increasing inequality in the delivery of public services to the poorest and elderly people.