An example of the type of issues Goanta’s research delves into is the use of service platforms such as Youtube or Instagram for advertising purposes. Dubbed ‘influencer marketing’, the current practice of social media advertising entails that (internet) celebrities such as singers, actors, bloggers and vloggers endorse products or services by companies who pay them to do so. Yet, influencers commonly have large numbers of followers who trust them to display genuine content. If they support brands, there is no law requiring them to disclose this matter to their audience. As a result, the practice of influencer marketing is a misleading one. The consumer might believe a product or service to be the genuine preference of a given influencer, while in reality this is not the case. Another example is that of self-driving cars. As cars become more intelligent, the question arises as to the liability in case of accidents. If a car is driving itself, how can the law best govern the type of issues this technology can give rise to?

Overall, Goanta’s research discusses how to best manage the interests affected by innovative practices brought about by disruptive technology.  Which relationship should law have with innovation? Should the law protect society from the risks of technology, or should it nurture technology in the hope of economic growth? Goanta explains how disruptive technological services affect the legal governance of companies and society at large.

About Catalina Goanta
Dr. Catalina Goanta received her LL.B. degree from the Faculty of Law of the University of Bucharest, where she studied Romanian and international law. She proceeded to complete an LL.M. at the Faculty of Law at Maastricht University, specializing in European comparative law and international law, and further obtained an MSc. in public policy and human development from the United Nations University-MERIT Maastricht Graduate School of Governance. Goanta has been doing research on Californian law as a fellow of the Stanford-Vienna Transatlantic Technology Law Forum (Stanford University). Supported by the Niels Stensen fellowship, she will conduct this research in 2018 at the Institute for Work and Employment Research (University of St. Gallen), as well as the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society (Harvard University).

About the Niels Stensen Fellowship
The Niels Stensen Fellowship is a programme implemented by Porticus, the international organisation that manages the grant-giving programmes of charitable entities established by Brenninkmeijer family entrepreneurs. Since the 1960s, the Niels Stensen Fellowship has been awarded annually to enable young postdoctoral students to gain research experience at a top university or institute abroad. The mission of the fellowship is to contribute to the formation of excellent, socially committed scholarship.