The emergence of collaborative production and consumption practices based on the use of digital platforms challenges the traditional forms of supplying goods and services. These platforms can be of various types, ranging from creating common goods (eg Wikipedia), sharing expenses (BlaBlaCar) or creating links and relationships to creating or organizing activities (while setting the conditions in which they are performed, as is the case of Uber). Among others aspects, this new reality involves the creation of new models of economic organization, while at the same time transforming social relations, opening up new possibilities for work relationships and creating new development opportunities.

Very diverse sectors have been affected by this new paradigm: mobility, housing access (think of the P2P tourism rental practices, for example), sustainability, social exclusion, accessibility and citizen participation.

Some authors are suggesting that we are on the threshold of a new revolution. We are witnessing a transformation of the economic model in which the collaborative process is playing a key role. This has led to a progressive replacement of the role of the intermediary, moving from a pyramid-like structure to a networked society aimed at facilitating the optimization of goods and resources.

However, this new paradigm also has negative elements. To mention a few examples: the possible violation of certain human rights and new forms of discrimination; the overriding focus on the business, beyond the original collaborative philosophy; or possible unfair competition. In addition, new transnational players and platforms are becoming consolidated, taking advantage of legal loopholes to increase market share and control.

The collaborative economy affects, among other things, the structure of labour relations, consumer rights, competition law, taxation, processing of personal data, intellectual property, public policies, the exercise of fundamental rights, etc.

In short, the collaborative economy is a controversial phenomenon; attention must be given to work out what its limits are and what public regulation and intervention instruments are required to address the challenges it raises.

About IDP Conference

The Conference on Internet, Law & Politics (IDP) is promoted and organized by the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).

The thirteen previous conferences have consolidated the Conference on Internet, Law & Politics as an annual meeting place for researchers, academics and professionals interested in the consequences of the use of information and communication technologies in the different fields of law and politics. The international character of the Conference is reflected in the participation of outstanding international academics and researchers in previous meetings, including Benjamin Barber, Hugh Beale, Lance Bennett, Céline Deswarte, Josep Domingo-Ferrer, Lilian Edwards, Paolo Gerbaudo, Jane C. Ginsburg, James Grimmelmann, Mireille Hildebrandt, Bert-Jaap Koops, Henrik Kaspersen, Greg Lastowka, Itziar de Lecuona, Fred von Lohmann, Ronald Leenes, Alessandro Mantelero, Helen Margetts, Chris Marsden, Ricard Martínez Martínez, Juan José Medina Ariza, Eben Moglen, Evgeny Morozov, John Palfrey, Ingolf Pernice, Yves Poullet, Alison Powell, Cornelius Prittwitz, Daniele Quercia, Stefano Rodotà, Javier Ruiz Diaz, Gerald Spindler, Irinia Shklovski, Alain Strowel, Linnet Taylor, Cécile de Terwangne, Julián Valero, Wim Vanobberghen, John Vervaele, Duncan Watts, Raquel Xalabarder and Jonathan Zittrain.

Más información en la web del congreso:

http://symposium.uoc.edu/12116/detail/idp-2018-_-collaborative-economy-challenges-and-opportunities-barcelona-21-22-june.html