The Collective Redress and Digital Fairness Conference, organized by the University of Amsterdam, provides a forum to discuss how collective redress can ensure effective judicial protection against Big Tech’s contested business practices.
As Big Tech increasingly influences areas like public discourse, governance, and consumer rights, the EU has responded with two key developments: a growing digital regulatory framework addressing platforms’ services, business models, and data practices, and the emergence of collective redress mechanisms enabling access to justice and enforcement of digital rights. Countries like the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany are seeing a rise in collective litigation, particularly in data and consumer protection. High-profile GDPR cases have challenged unlawful data practices, and collective actions have targeted manipulative interface designs. Recent legislation – including the Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act, and the AI Act – alongside the revised Product Liability Directive, are shaping a new legal landscape with significant implications for collective enforcement. However, challenges persist. There are disparities across EU legal systems, and the complexity of collective litigation raises questions of representation, resources, and litigation risk. Balancing effective enforcement with the need to avoid frivolous claims is key to sustaining a high standard of digital fairness.
The Conference will explore how collective redress can promote digital fairness – ensuring users, consumers, and businesses are protected from unfair or manipulative practices. It will also consider collective litigation as a form of regulation, complementing public enforcement, and prompting reflection on its alignment with traditional private law values.
Call for papers:
Contributions should explore topical issues related to collective redress, including the effectiveness of remedies, the normative foundations of collective redress, and the role of private enforcement in regulating EU digital law. Submissions should include an extended abstract (max. 1000 words), in English, delineating the paper research question/topic, methodology, and main arguments advanced and a short bio of the Author/s (max 150 words).
Documents should be addressed to collectiveredressdigitalfairness-fdr@uva.nl, with the subject line “Submission – Collective Redress and Digital Fairness”, by 1 june 2025.