News and Research articles on Europe

The regulation of online political micro-targeting in Europe

Tom Dobber, University of Amsterdam
Ronan Ó Fathaigh, University of Amsterdam
Frederik J. Zuiderveen Borgesius, Radboud University
PUBLISHED ON: 31 Dec 2019 DOI: 10.14763/2019.4.1440

This paper discusses how online political micro-targeting is regulated in Europe, from the perspective of data protection law, freedom of expression, and political advertising rules.

Data subjects as data controllers: a Fashion(able) concept?

Lilian Edwards, Newcastle University
Michèle Finck, Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition
Michael Veale, University College London
Nicolo Zingales, Tilburg University

PUBLISHED ON: 13 Jun 2019

Recent case-law of the European Court of Justice has substantially widened the notion of “data controller" in unclear and potentially onerous ways for a range of actors involved in personal data processing. This has worrying implications for data subjects who may be characterised as controllers, and for emergent decentralised and privacy protective technologies.

Not just one, but many ‘Rights to be Forgotten’

Geert Van Calster, KU Leuven
Alejandro Gonzalez Arreaza, KU Leuven
Elsemiek Apers, Conseil International du Notariat Belge
PUBLISHED ON: 15 May 2018 DOI: 10.14763/2018.2.794

Since being first developed through the case law of the European Court of Justice, the Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) has rapidly diffused beyond its European origins: in Latin America for instance. This paper documents the wide spectrum of interpretations the RTBF has had across countries and data protection authorities.

Two crates of beer and 40 pizzas: the adoption of innovative political behavioural targeting techniques

Tom Dobber, University of Amsterdam
Damian Trilling, University of Amsterdam
Natali Helberger, University of Amsterdam
Claes de Vreese, University of Amsterdam
PUBLISHED ON: 31 Dec 2017 DOI: 10.14763/2017.4.777

This study examines the conditions under which political behavioural targeting occurs in multi-party democracies, and explains differences between parties.

From repressing digital content to repressing people

Anita R. Gohdes, University of Zurich

PUBLISHED ON: 30 Jul 2016

Turkey's strategy of repressing opposing voices in the aftermath of the failed coup of 15 July 2016 has transformed from surveilling perceived enemies and repressing specific digital content to arresting and silencing anyone who has been classified as a threat to Erdoğan's position of power.