Digital Governance Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/digital-governance This podcast series is dedicated to digital governance. Digital governance is broadly understood as the legal and institutional rules which provide the framework in which digitalization unfolds. The podcasts will be centered around the research done by our DIGOV fellows. We will publish a series of podcasts, which are made using the AI tool Notebook LM. Each podcast will discuss a different article or book chapter, all within the broad framework of digital governance. The podcast series starts with fundamental reflections about responsibility of AI agents. Who is liable when AI is involved in an accident? Can history help us to better understand how AI regulations should be employed? Or, what can moral philosophy tell law? Moreover, a podcast about science communication is presented, which addresses the question of how digital media impacts the communication of scientists. © Erasmus University Rotterdam 03932cfa-741b-5aa7-94a6-9ef953230001 yes en Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:18:49 +0100 Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:19:14 +0100 https://digov.eu/ https://img.transistorcdn.com/056MH4pU1PNpm0YOXcP9EG4V4ArDxctgxauBwsQQKOs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wZjk5/NDAwYzEzYzBlMWE3/MWNhZWE5YjgyZWI4/OGQ1Yy5wbmc.jpg Digital Governance https://digov.eu/ episodic Erasmus University Rotterdam This podcast series is dedicated to digital governance. Digital governance is broadly understood as the legal and institutional rules which provide the framework in which digitalization unfolds. The podcasts will be centered around the research done by our DIGOV fellows. We will publish a series of podcasts, which are made using the AI tool Notebook LM. Each podcast will discuss a different article or book chapter, all within the broad framework of digital governance. The podcast series starts with fundamental reflections about responsibility of AI agents. Who is liable when AI is involved in an accident? Can history help us to better understand how AI regulations should be employed? Or, what can moral philosophy tell law? Moreover, a podcast about science communication is presented, which addresses the question of how digital media impacts the communication of scientists. This podcast series is dedicated to digital governance. Klaus Heine No No Between Self-interest and Public Welfare – the Role of Policy Advisors 10 10 Between Self-interest and Public Welfare – the Role of Policy Advisors full 3fe01bc6-87fc-4b84-a2f9-44399f2436ab https://klausheine.eu/2026/02/10/between-self-interest-and-public-welfare-the-role-of-policy-advisors/ The article investigates the complex relationship between academic experts and the political sphere, highlighting how scientific policy advice is often hindered by a lack of empirical consensus and a prevailing reproduction crisis in research. Moving beyond the ideal of objective guidance, the authors apply an economic lens to reveal that both politicians and advisors are frequently driven by self-interest, seeking to maximize their own power, prestige, and income rather than serving the public good. The text argues that modern social media has transformed researchers into communication instruments, where a scholar's personal brand is used by officials to legitimize predetermined agendas rather than to foster genuine evidence-based reform.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> The article investigates the complex relationship between academic experts and the political sphere, highlighting how scientific policy advice is often hindered by a lack of empirical consensus and a prevailing reproduction crisis in research. Moving beyond the ideal of objective guidance, the authors apply an economic lens to reveal that both politicians and advisors are frequently driven by self-interest, seeking to maximize their own power, prestige, and income rather than serving the public good. The text argues that modern social media has transformed researchers into communication instruments, where a scholar's personal brand is used by officials to legitimize predetermined agendas rather than to foster genuine evidence-based reform.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:51:56 +0100 Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam 931 The article investigates the complex relationship between academic experts and the political sphere, highlighting how scientific policy advice is often hindered by a lack of empirical consensus and a prevailing reproduction crisis in research. Moving beyond the ideal of objective guidance, the authors apply an economic lens to reveal that both politicians and advisors are frequently driven by self-interest, seeking to maximize their own power, prestige, and income rather than serving the public good. The text argues that modern social media has transformed researchers into communication instruments, where a scholar's personal brand is used by officials to legitimize predetermined agendas rather than to foster genuine evidence-based reform.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Policy, Public Welfare, Self-interest No Digital vulnerability in the era of AI 9 9 Digital vulnerability in the era of AI full c20e645e-7e77-44c5-abf6-8ab6703bbb88 https://digov.eu/digital-vulnerability-in-the-era-of-ai/ The European Union has introduced the AI Act, aimed at establishing a comprehensive framework for regulating AI systems according to the level of risk they pose. This podcast focuses on the ex post dimension of digital vulnerability, identifying four obstacles that hinder individuals from seeking remedies through tort liability: the difficulty in identifying harm, the presence of pure economic loss, the quantification of non-material damage and the issue of federalism. Recognising these four elements provides a basis for reclassifying AI systems based on the nature of harm they may cause. This podcast will be explored through the article ‘Developing a harm-based approach to understand digital vulnerability in the era of AI: a perspective of the European Union’. This article is written by Klaus Heine and Shu Li.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> The European Union has introduced the AI Act, aimed at establishing a comprehensive framework for regulating AI systems according to the level of risk they pose. This podcast focuses on the ex post dimension of digital vulnerability, identifying four obstacles that hinder individuals from seeking remedies through tort liability: the difficulty in identifying harm, the presence of pure economic loss, the quantification of non-material damage and the issue of federalism. Recognising these four elements provides a basis for reclassifying AI systems based on the nature of harm they may cause. This podcast will be explored through the article ‘Developing a harm-based approach to understand digital vulnerability in the era of AI: a perspective of the European Union’. This article is written by Klaus Heine and Shu Li.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:22:19 +0100 Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam 1095 The European Union has introduced the AI Act, aimed at establishing a comprehensive framework for regulating AI systems according to the level of risk they pose. This podcast focuses on the ex post dimension of digital vulnerability, identifying four obstacles that hinder individuals from seeking remedies through tort liability: the difficulty in identifying harm, the presence of pure economic loss, the quantification of non-material damage and the issue of federalism. Recognising these four elements provides a basis for reclassifying AI systems based on the nature of harm they may cause. This podcast will be explored through the article ‘Developing a harm-based approach to understand digital vulnerability in the era of AI: a perspective of the European Union’. This article is written by Klaus Heine and Shu Li.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Digital vulnerability, Artificial intelligence, Tort damage, Harm No What Do Privacy Scholars Maximize? – Law as a Practice and Law as a Science. 8 8 What Do Privacy Scholars Maximize? – Law as a Practice and Law as a Science. full 947ee5d8-6d59-43c0-9d30-932bea0a7bd5 https://digov.eu/the-privacy-paradox-law/ Ignacio Cofone’s book “The Privacy Fallacy” is the starting point for a methodological discussion about how the notion of privacy is approached by law. It is distinguished between law as a practice and law as science. The first is a technique of conflict resolution, while the latter derives empirically testable hypotheses from a theory. In “The Privacy Fallacy” we find both. Epistemological problems arise when the two approaches are not analytically separated. This discussion is guided by the article ‘What do privacy scholars maximize? – Law as a practice and law as a science’, written by prof. Heine.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Ignacio Cofone’s book “The Privacy Fallacy” is the starting point for a methodological discussion about how the notion of privacy is approached by law. It is distinguished between law as a practice and law as science. The first is a technique of conflict resolution, while the latter derives empirically testable hypotheses from a theory. In “The Privacy Fallacy” we find both. Epistemological problems arise when the two approaches are not analytically separated. This discussion is guided by the article ‘What do privacy scholars maximize? – Law as a practice and law as a science’, written by prof. Heine.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:55:22 +0200 Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam 704 Ignacio Cofone’s book “The Privacy Fallacy” is the starting point for a methodological discussion about how the notion of privacy is approached by law. It is distinguished between law as a practice and law as science. The first is a technique of conflict resolution, while the latter derives empirically testable hypotheses from a theory. In “The Privacy Fallacy” we find both. Epistemological problems arise when the two approaches are not analytically separated. This discussion is guided by the article ‘What do privacy scholars maximize? – Law as a practice and law as a science’, written by prof. Heine.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Legal method, Privacy, Economic analysis of Law No Autonomous Decision-Making as a Challenge for Legal Research. 7 7 Autonomous Decision-Making as a Challenge for Legal Research. full 71a6091c-be5b-446f-8e46-5d3e43af7ebb https://digov.eu/ais-legal-challenge/ To get a better understanding of the fundamental problem that economic analysis of law has with autonomous decision-making, different routes for solving the problem are scrutinized. The analysis shows that the toolbox of Law and Economics does not yet provide a clear answer. Doctrinal law can also give no conclusive answers. Instead, this contribution proposes taking a closer look into legal history. The recourse to legal history can neither replace theory, nor can legal rules from the past be transplanted to the present. Yet, a look into legal history can provide fresh ideas on how to deal effectively with the challenges of autonomous decision-making. This podcast is guided by the following paper of prof. Heine: ‘Autonomous Decision-Making as a Challenge for Legal Research’.

For the link of the publication of the paper mentioned above, please click here.

]]> To get a better understanding of the fundamental problem that economic analysis of law has with autonomous decision-making, different routes for solving the problem are scrutinized. The analysis shows that the toolbox of Law and Economics does not yet provide a clear answer. Doctrinal law can also give no conclusive answers. Instead, this contribution proposes taking a closer look into legal history. The recourse to legal history can neither replace theory, nor can legal rules from the past be transplanted to the present. Yet, a look into legal history can provide fresh ideas on how to deal effectively with the challenges of autonomous decision-making. This podcast is guided by the following paper of prof. Heine: ‘Autonomous Decision-Making as a Challenge for Legal Research’.

For the link of the publication of the paper mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:23:19 +0200 Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam 1281 To get a better understanding of the fundamental problem that economic analysis of law has with autonomous decision-making, different routes for solving the problem are scrutinized. The analysis shows that the toolbox of Law and Economics does not yet provide a clear answer. Doctrinal law can also give no conclusive answers. Instead, this contribution proposes taking a closer look into legal history. The recourse to legal history can neither replace theory, nor can legal rules from the past be transplanted to the present. Yet, a look into legal history can provide fresh ideas on how to deal effectively with the challenges of autonomous decision-making. This podcast is guided by the following paper of prof. Heine: ‘Autonomous Decision-Making as a Challenge for Legal Research’.

For the link of the publication of the paper mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Autonomous, Decision-making, Legal challenge No GDPR and abuse of right 6 6 GDPR and abuse of right full eb91f82d-3cbb-4370-b1ce-992581101c98 https://digov.eu/gdpr-and-abuse-of-right/ The GDPR has shaken up the world for both businesses and consumers. New rights and obligations have emerged, and many revolve around various data protection requests. The recent case C-307/22 was analysed by Larisa Munteanu in a brief study that highlights how inconsistency may arise from attempted consistency, at EU level:  Can "abusive requests" be both the genre and the species in certain circumstances? Should more guidelines be issued? The case note raised such questions, but also addressed the implications of the CJEU ruling in the context of data protection interpretations and several Private Law branches.

For the link of the publication of the study mentioned above, please click here.

]]> The GDPR has shaken up the world for both businesses and consumers. New rights and obligations have emerged, and many revolve around various data protection requests. The recent case C-307/22 was analysed by Larisa Munteanu in a brief study that highlights how inconsistency may arise from attempted consistency, at EU level:  Can "abusive requests" be both the genre and the species in certain circumstances? Should more guidelines be issued? The case note raised such questions, but also addressed the implications of the CJEU ruling in the context of data protection interpretations and several Private Law branches.

For the link of the publication of the study mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Fri, 16 May 2025 11:02:53 +0200 Larisa Munteanu; Erasmus University Rotterdam Larisa Munteanu; Erasmus University Rotterdam 937 The GDPR has shaken up the world for both businesses and consumers. New rights and obligations have emerged, and many revolve around various data protection requests. The recent case C-307/22 was analysed by Larisa Munteanu in a brief study that highlights how inconsistency may arise from attempted consistency, at EU level:  Can "abusive requests" be both the genre and the species in certain circumstances? Should more guidelines be issued? The case note raised such questions, but also addressed the implications of the CJEU ruling in the context of data protection interpretations and several Private Law branches.

For the link of the publication of the study mentioned above, please click here.

]]> GDPR, Abuse of Right No What Shall we do with the Drunken Sailor? Product Safety in the Aftermath of 3D Printing. 5 5 What Shall we do with the Drunken Sailor? Product Safety in the Aftermath of 3D Printing. full 77e23c2d-d6a8-4121-8c10-e036bc3f211b https://digov.eu/3d-printing-and-liability/ 3D-printing aligns the digital and the material world. It questions the necessity of large scale production facilities for producing homogenous cheap products. It also questions the distinction between producer and consumer. This has very tangible repercussions for attributing liability. The podcast is guided by the paper ‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor? Product safety in the aftermath of 3D printing’ written by prof. Heine and S. Li.

For the link of the publication of the paper mentioned above, please click here.

]]> 3D-printing aligns the digital and the material world. It questions the necessity of large scale production facilities for producing homogenous cheap products. It also questions the distinction between producer and consumer. This has very tangible repercussions for attributing liability. The podcast is guided by the paper ‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor? Product safety in the aftermath of 3D printing’ written by prof. Heine and S. Li.

For the link of the publication of the paper mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Tue, 13 May 2025 10:30:01 +0200 Klaus Heine, Shu Li; Erasmus University Rotterdam Klaus Heine, Shu Li; Erasmus University Rotterdam 749 3D-printing aligns the digital and the material world. It questions the necessity of large scale production facilities for producing homogenous cheap products. It also questions the distinction between producer and consumer. This has very tangible repercussions for attributing liability. The podcast is guided by the paper ‘What shall we do with the drunken sailor? Product safety in the aftermath of 3D printing’ written by prof. Heine and S. Li.

For the link of the publication of the paper mentioned above, please click here.

]]> 3D Printing, Liability, Product Safety No Lobbying and social media: science communication as a case study. 4 4 Lobbying and social media: science communication as a case study. full c129edeb-1d3f-46fc-8f6a-82a9e9417b9e https://digov.eu/the-fourth-podcast/ Social media has profoundly changed the communication between scientists and the public. Social media allows scientists to instantly communicate their sometimes not peer-reviewed research results to a wide audience. This gives scientists the chance to get political influence, although the research results are possibly wrong. What are the motives and interests of scientists being engaged on social media with their research ideas and opinions? This trend will be explored through a chapter from a German academic handbook, “Lobbying and Social Media: Science Communication as a Case Study”. This chapter is written by prof. Heine and U. A. Ohliger.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Social media has profoundly changed the communication between scientists and the public. Social media allows scientists to instantly communicate their sometimes not peer-reviewed research results to a wide audience. This gives scientists the chance to get political influence, although the research results are possibly wrong. What are the motives and interests of scientists being engaged on social media with their research ideas and opinions? This trend will be explored through a chapter from a German academic handbook, “Lobbying and Social Media: Science Communication as a Case Study”. This chapter is written by prof. Heine and U. A. Ohliger.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Tue, 13 May 2025 10:20:47 +0200 Klaus Heine, Ursula Alexandra Ohliger; Erasmus University Rotterdam Klaus Heine, Ursula Alexandra Ohliger; Erasmus University Rotterdam 876 Social media has profoundly changed the communication between scientists and the public. Social media allows scientists to instantly communicate their sometimes not peer-reviewed research results to a wide audience. This gives scientists the chance to get political influence, although the research results are possibly wrong. What are the motives and interests of scientists being engaged on social media with their research ideas and opinions? This trend will be explored through a chapter from a German academic handbook, “Lobbying and Social Media: Science Communication as a Case Study”. This chapter is written by prof. Heine and U. A. Ohliger.

For the link of the publication of the article mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Lobbying, Social Media, Science Communication No Liability of Artificial Intelligence Systems – or: In Search of Lost Time. 3 3 Liability of Artificial Intelligence Systems – or: In Search of Lost Time. full 560aa43a-7a1c-4c34-9d38-edaaaf25d201 https://digov.eu/the-third-podcast/ AI causes accountability gaps, but there is not yet a methodological toolkit to close those gaps. What are the problems of the contemporary methods? A distinction is made between law as practice and law as science. Legal history is proposed as a source of inspiration for today’s legal problems of AI. The discussion is guided by an academic chapter called “Liability of artifical intelligence systems – or: in search of lost time” written by prof. Heine for the book Competition, Law and Economic Policy by prof. Heine and prof. Budzinski. This podcast is in English, but the chapter and book are written in German.

For the link of the publication of the chapter mentioned above, please click here.

]]> AI causes accountability gaps, but there is not yet a methodological toolkit to close those gaps. What are the problems of the contemporary methods? A distinction is made between law as practice and law as science. Legal history is proposed as a source of inspiration for today’s legal problems of AI. The discussion is guided by an academic chapter called “Liability of artifical intelligence systems – or: in search of lost time” written by prof. Heine for the book Competition, Law and Economic Policy by prof. Heine and prof. Budzinski. This podcast is in English, but the chapter and book are written in German.

For the link of the publication of the chapter mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Tue, 13 May 2025 10:12:34 +0200 Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam 1084 AI causes accountability gaps, but there is not yet a methodological toolkit to close those gaps. What are the problems of the contemporary methods? A distinction is made between law as practice and law as science. Legal history is proposed as a source of inspiration for today’s legal problems of AI. The discussion is guided by an academic chapter called “Liability of artifical intelligence systems – or: in search of lost time” written by prof. Heine for the book Competition, Law and Economic Policy by prof. Heine and prof. Budzinski. This podcast is in English, but the chapter and book are written in German.

For the link of the publication of the chapter mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Liability, AI Systems, Legal History, Method No What can epistemology and moral philosophy teach law? 2 2 What can epistemology and moral philosophy teach law? full 78805912-8c2b-4256-91f6-3cb7e60b03cf https://digov.eu/the-first-podcast/ This podcast asks on the most basic level, what the legal options are for giving AI legal status. This means a rigorous analysis of the relation between human and non-human decision makers. The podcast involves the question of consciousness, the meaning of legal personhood and a discussion of contractarian approaches. Only a good knowledge of these issues lays the fundament for legal reasoning of AI. This episode discusses the chapter “Human Rights, Legal Personality, and Artificial Intelligence – What Can Epistemology and Moral Philosophy Teach Law?” written by prof. Heine for the book Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights by A. Quintavalla and J. Temperman.

For the link to the publication site of the book mentioned above, please click here.

]]> This podcast asks on the most basic level, what the legal options are for giving AI legal status. This means a rigorous analysis of the relation between human and non-human decision makers. The podcast involves the question of consciousness, the meaning of legal personhood and a discussion of contractarian approaches. Only a good knowledge of these issues lays the fundament for legal reasoning of AI. This episode discusses the chapter “Human Rights, Legal Personality, and Artificial Intelligence – What Can Epistemology and Moral Philosophy Teach Law?” written by prof. Heine for the book Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights by A. Quintavalla and J. Temperman.

For the link to the publication site of the book mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Tue, 13 May 2025 09:59:46 +0200 Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam 659 This podcast asks on the most basic level, what the legal options are for giving AI legal status. This means a rigorous analysis of the relation between human and non-human decision makers. The podcast involves the question of consciousness, the meaning of legal personhood and a discussion of contractarian approaches. Only a good knowledge of these issues lays the fundament for legal reasoning of AI. This episode discusses the chapter “Human Rights, Legal Personality, and Artificial Intelligence – What Can Epistemology and Moral Philosophy Teach Law?” written by prof. Heine for the book Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights by A. Quintavalla and J. Temperman.

For the link to the publication site of the book mentioned above, please click here.

]]> AI, Epistemology, Moral Philosophy No Bridging the accountability gap of artificial intelligence – What can be learned from Roman law? 1 1 Bridging the accountability gap of artificial intelligence – What can be learned from Roman law? full 3156c8e8-100b-42a7-92f4-d4e0a107fa7e https://digov.eu/the-second-podcast/ AI creates new problems for the attribution of responsibility. The incumbent law is not yet ready to close those gaps of responsibility. The look back into Roman Law might be helpful to get an idea of how the past dealt with autonomous agents and liability. Especially, how the Romans integrated slaves as decision making agents in their business transactions, is worth getting deeper into. The podcast focusses on the paper ‘Bridging the accountability gap of artificial intelligence – What can be learned from Roman law?’, written by prof. K. Heine and A. Quintavalla.

For the link of the publication of the paper mentioned above, please click here.

]]> AI creates new problems for the attribution of responsibility. The incumbent law is not yet ready to close those gaps of responsibility. The look back into Roman Law might be helpful to get an idea of how the past dealt with autonomous agents and liability. Especially, how the Romans integrated slaves as decision making agents in their business transactions, is worth getting deeper into. The podcast focusses on the paper ‘Bridging the accountability gap of artificial intelligence – What can be learned from Roman law?’, written by prof. K. Heine and A. Quintavalla.

For the link of the publication of the paper mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Wed, 07 May 2025 15:49:08 +0200 Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam Klaus Heine; Erasmus University Rotterdam 1329 AI creates new problems for the attribution of responsibility. The incumbent law is not yet ready to close those gaps of responsibility. The look back into Roman Law might be helpful to get an idea of how the past dealt with autonomous agents and liability. Especially, how the Romans integrated slaves as decision making agents in their business transactions, is worth getting deeper into. The podcast focusses on the paper ‘Bridging the accountability gap of artificial intelligence – What can be learned from Roman law?’, written by prof. K. Heine and A. Quintavalla.

For the link of the publication of the paper mentioned above, please click here.

]]> Artificial Intelligence, Roman Law, Accountability Gap, Legal History No