Virtual worlds players – consumers or citizens?

Edina Harbinja, University of Strathclyde
PUBLISHED ON: 15 Oct 2014 DOI: 10.14763/2014.4.329

Recognising the concept of constitutionalisation of virtual worlds (such as Second Life or World of Warcraft), this paper argues for a more nuanced approach towards the recognition of virtual assets of users.

Bitcoin is the first decentralised, peer-to-peer network that allows for the proof and transfer of ownership of virtual currencies without the need for a trusted third party. The purpose of this article is to address how we can capture Bitcoin’s potential benefits for the economy while addressing new regulatory challenges.

Bitcoin: a regulatory nightmare to a libertarian dream

Primavera De Filippi, Research and Studies Center of Administrative Science (CERSA/CNRS), Université Paris II (Panthéon-Assas)
PUBLISHED ON: 23 May 2014 DOI: 10.14763/2014.2.286

Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin are often seen as a threat by governmental and financial institutions worldwide. Regulation could help minimise the risks involved. The author explores some legal and self-regulatory precedents from which we can learn.

Privacy evaluation: what empirical research on users’ valuation of personal data tells us

Federico Morando, Nexa Center for Internet & Society, Politecnico de Torino
Raimondo Iemma, Nexa Center for Internet & Society
Emilio Raiteri, University of Turin
PUBLISHED ON: 20 May 2014 DOI: 10.14763/2014.2.283

A review of the recent economic literature aimed at empirically assessing internet users’ valuation of their personal data, suggesting possible limitations and pitfalls in the experiments, and drawing policy-oriented remarks focused on data portability.

Online chilling effects in England and Wales

Judith Townend, University of Westminster & City University London
PUBLISHED ON: 3 Apr 2014 DOI: 10.14763/2014.2.252

Bloggers' and online journalists’ experiences of defamation and privacy law suggest that new approaches to legal policy are needed in a digital media environment. This paper by Judith Townend draws on empirical research to analyse chilling effects in the UK.

NETmundial: only a landmark event if 'Digital Cold War' rhetoric abandoned

Francesca Musiani, MINES ParisTech
Julia Pohle, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
PUBLISHED ON: 27 Mar 2014 DOI: 10.14763/2014.1.251

The dominant narrative about the governance of the internet in media and with high-level policymakers is misleading. Researchers Francesca Musiani and Julia Pohle explain what stands in the way of genuine multistakeholder internet governance as all eyes are turning towards Brazil and its NETmundial meeting.

Can human rights law bend mass surveillance?

Rikke Frank Joergensen, The Danish Institute for Human Rights
PUBLISHED ON: 27 Feb 2014 DOI: 10.14763/2014.1.249

Drawing on the example of the US surveillance operation PRISM and its impact on European citizens’ right to privacy, the author discusses what an authoritative human rights-based response could look like.