This two-volume manual is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary guide to understanding the system of digital platforms, or the e-Agorà of the third millennium, making it an essential resource for anyone seeking clarity in the digital world.
The handbook brings together the insights of eminent scholars and international experts to explore the legal, ethical, technological, philosophical, economic, and social aspects of platforms. The chapters take a multidisciplinary approach to topics such as AI and its training, data processing and protection, new digital subjects and assets, contract law, provider liability, soft law, and copyright, offering a comprehensive view of the entire digital ecosystem.
The authors approach fosters a rich interaction among various disciplines, ranging from philosophy to civil law, from computer science to labor law, from industrial property law to public and administrative law, from international law to European Union law, and from economic policy to management. Particular attention is devoted to the European regulatory framework, to the role of artificial intelligence in content creation and decision-making processes, as well as to the implications of platformisation for public procurement and employment relationships.
The work also analyzes emerging issues such as algorithmic governance, digital identity, and digital succession, with an in-depth examination of the challenges of co-regulation and the application of current regulations such as the DMA and DSA, alongside the evolving role of national regulatory authorities.
It is aimed at researchers and scholars, while also offering essential guidance for professionals and policymakers working to shape the future of digital governance.
Volume 1 focuses on the technological, contractual, and legal foundations of digital platforms, offering an in-depth analysis of issues such as liability, intellectual property, and data protection.
Volume 2 broadens the perspective to include philosophical, economic, regulatory, and managerial dimensions, providing a holistic understanding of platforms as socioeconomic and political actors.

Autorentext

Roberto Bocchini is Full Professor of Private Law at the University of Naples Parthenope. He is Vice Rector for Relations with Businesses, Public Entities, Professional Associations, and Legal Affairs and author of several monographs, essays, articles, and other contributions on obligations, civil liability and service contracts.

Inhalt

Part I Philosophy.- From Analogue to Digital.- From Human Capital to World Heritage.- From Welfare to Webfare.- Part II Economic Policy.- Economics of Platforms.- A Composite Indicator to measure the Economic and Financial Health of Digital Platforms.- The Economy of Digital Platforms: A Performance Analysis from 2012 to 2021.- Part III Soft Law and Co-regulation.- The Transnational Nature of the Internet and Applicable Law.- Governmental Regulation Relinquishment and Devolution of Normative Power to Platforms. Co-Regulation and the Regulatory Circle.- The Role of Codes of Conduct.- Terms and Conditions of Services as Expressions of the Normative Power of Online Platforms.- Strengthened Protection for Minors through Co-regulation.- Part IV Public Law and EU Law Profiles.- Digital Platforms: A New Form of Non-State Sovereignty.- Platforms, Disinformation and Public Opinion Formation in Digital Democracies.- The role of Private Entities in the Selection of Internet Content.- Digital markets and services: introductory profiles, divergences and convergences in regulation.- Digital Markets Act.- The Private Enforcement of the Digital Markets Act.- The New Regulatory Framework for Digital Services and Online Platforms: Between the Digital Services Act and the Media Freedom Act.- Part V Digitalisation of Public Contracts in Italy.- Digitalisation of Public Contracts: an Introduction.- The National Digital Procurement Ecosystem.- Digital Platforms Acquisition Tools of Mepa and Sdapa.- Access to Documents in Digitalised Procedures (Substantive and Procedural Profiles).- The Algorithmic Decision : Clarification of Transdisciplinary Terminology.- Use of Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence in the Life Cycle of Public Contracts.- Litigation in Digital procedures (Self-responsibility of the Economic Operator and Digital Formalism ).- Part VI Labour Law Profiles.- Employment Relationship and Digital Platform: Obligations and Responsibilities.- Platform Workers' Safety: Substantive and Insurance aspects.- Labour Relations and the Collective Autonomy of Platform workers.- Part VII Tax Law Profiles.- Digital Economy, Multinational Companies and The Corporate Income Tax Crisis.- The Beps Project and the European Proposals on Digital Economy Taxation.- Italian Digital Services Tax.-Automatic Exchange of Information Provided by Digital Platform Operators.- Part VIII Digital Platforms: The Function of the National Regulatory Authority-Regulation Of Digital Platforms Be-Tween User Protection and Promotion Of New Rights.- The evolution of digital platforms: main growth dynamics.- Key Rights for Business Users Under the P2B Regulation: the best practices identified by AGCOM.- The ban on online gambling advertising: legal and practical profiles.- Online Platforms and Copyright Protection: Fair Compensation for online use of press publications.- Protection of Performers in their relations with Platforms.- Tools for combating online disinformation: from self-regulation to the Digital Services Act.- News and Digital Platforms: consumption dynamics and trends in Italy.- Monitoring digital and media literacy from global platforms to local initiatives.- The judicial protection of users of digital platforms and the competences of the Authority.- Part IX Digital Platforms from a Managerial Perspective.- Digital transformation in Business Management.- Strategic Approach and Operational Tools in Digital Management: the Centrality of Data Digital Platforms Supporting Management Processes.- The Role of Digital Platforms in the Consumer-brand Relationships.- Advantages and Limitations of Digital Platforms.