Registration Deadline: 3 March 2021

The increasing use of big data and algorithms allows for an increasingly precise targeting of specific consumer groups with specific types of advertising and prices and an increasing personalization of commercial messages. Receiving advertisements aligned to their personal interests may be perceived as useful by consumers, but it also raises issues of privacy, and it may even lead to the creation of unfair distinctions between consumers and even to illegal discrimination. When the selection of the categories of users is not the result of explicit choices made by the advertiser, but of the functioning of an algorithm, it is not always clear which criterion determines who receives which type of advertising.

Are the existing rules of consumer protection and non-discrimination law fit for dealing with the potential harm created by the increasing use of targeted advertising and personalization in ecommerce? Can technology assist consumer authorities to detect targeting and personalization practices that infringe existing rules, and/or assist policy makers in the field of consumer law to amend consumer protection and non-discrimination to this new reality?

These questions will addressed during the two day seminar “Researching discrimination in online advertising and e-commerce”. The first day experienced scholars will give their view on these questions. The second day, a group of younger researchers, winners of an abstract competition, will present their research and share their ideas.

The focus of the discussions will be on the EU, but US and Chinese examples will also facilitate trans-continental comparisons and highlight the regional similarities and differences in the challenges of and approaches for tackling discrimination problems.

Speakers include:

• Prof. Dr. Janneke Gerards (Utrecht University, Netherlands)
• Prof. Dr. Oana Goga (French National Centre for Scientific Research, France)
• Prof. Dr. Hans Micklitz (University of Helsinki, Finland)
• Prof. Dr. Philipp Häcker (European University Viadrina, Frankfurt)
• Prof. Dr. Christo Wilson (Northeastern University, U.S.)
• Prof. Dr. Frederik Zuiderveen Borgesius (Radboud University Nijmegen)
• Prof. Dr. Anne-Marie Hakstian (Salem State University, U.S.)

We are delighted to invite anyone with an interest in data science, human rights and law, business
or advertising to join us!

The full programme will be available soon. Participation is free, but registration is required - please
follow the link to register! We will keep you updated and send you the meeting link.