Computing the law, regulating the algorithm:
the transformative power of digital ecosystems

The third edition of the “IE Lawtomation Days” conference is fast approaching. We are all very excited to welcome you to IE University Law School for what promises to be a great academic event. Much change has happened in recent years. Large segments of today’s society are automated, at least in part, raising the need for further cross-disciplinary discussions.

This year, we aim to ideally “square the circle”. The key theme of the conference is the transformative power of digital ecosystems. We want to explore how technological advancements can be harnessed to create more sustainable, inclusive and ethically grounded environments. The quest for deeper analyses should prompt participants to engage in cross-disciplinary research, in line with the spirit of our Centre. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a space for thought-provoking research that can drive forward the research agenda.

On the one hand, the conference intends to explore how law can pursue the goal of automation in fields such as consumer law, criminal law, labour law, public law, private law and trade law. On the other, it aims to provide a constructive assessment of the multiple regulatory and legislative initiatives adopted to govern the digital world, including instances of institutional activism such as the AI Act, the DMA, the DSA, the Data Act, the AI Liability and Product Liability Directives, the Data Governance Act and the Platform Work Directive.

This conference edition aims to inject a much-needed dose of realism into a world grappling with contrasting attitudes—hype and alarmism—to shed light on the effectiveness, pitfalls and potential areas for improvement in existing legal instruments.

The conference is set to take place at the IE Tower, in Madrid, on 26 and 27 September 2024. Guests such as students, alumni, and staff who wish to attend the panels are invited to register through this link.