News and Research articles on Regulator

Data-driven elections: implications and challenges for democratic societies

Colin J. Bennett, University of Victoria
David Lyon, Queen's University
PUBLISHED ON: 31 Dec 2019 DOI: 10.14763/2019.4.1433

In the wake of the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal, it is timely to review the state of the debate about the impact of data-driven elections and to identify key questions that require academic research and regulatory response. The papers in this collection, by some of the world’s most prominent elections researchers, offer that assessment.

Discussing three factors that characterise the activities of political campaigners, this article demonstrates variations in who is using data in campaigns, what the sources of campaign data are, and how data informs communication.

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.

US Communications Commission decision to fuel further fight in the EU

Monika Ermert, Heise, Intellectual Property Watch, VDI-Nachrichten

PUBLISHED ON: 4 Jun 2014

At the end of the week the EU Telecom Council will address net neutrality and the Connected Continent Regulation. Member states are disagreeing over net neutrality and the opponents of stricter protection might point now to the recent FCC vote favouring specialised services alongside standard internet access.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating

Nico van Eijk, Institute for Information Law (IViR), Faculty of Law, University of Amsterdam

PUBLISHED ON: 10 Feb 2014

The Netherlands is among the few countries that have put specific net neutrality standards in place. In this op-ed, Nico van Eijk verifies whether the rules are working or if they are just another example of symbolic regulation.