Editorial

Emilios Avgouleas, Iris H-Y Chiu, Pierre Schammo
2019 European Business Organization Law Review  
Since the great financial crisis in 2008 and the near collapse of the global financial system, two themes have dominated policy-making, law reform and the academic debate: taming systemic risk and harnessing technological innovation. Both themes have been incredibly complex and multi-faceted and to some extent inter-linked. The promise of technological innovation in terms of more efficient, speedier and more cost-effective markets has been great from the outset. Even more so since the recent
more » ... rgence of financial technology firms (Fintechs) which have made great inroads in the payments sector. The same applies to the application of new technology in the sphere of financial intermediation by means of new business models/techniques such as peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, crowdfunding platforms, or the emergence of initial coin offerings (ICOs) as part of the controversial cryptoassets industry. Great are also the risks and perils emanating from these rapid developments, especially risks to the consumer, the integrity of financial markets, and the protection of financial user data from commercial exploitation or worse, e.g., behavioural profiling in the context of loan approvals. Today, the combination of financial and technology innovation is experienced by consumers and markets mainly in the form of: (a) the provision of automated investment advice (or robo-advice); (b) the use of algorithmic and artificial intelligence * Pierre Schammo
doi:10.1007/s40804-019-00140-4 fatcat:qm4olzcobbbndec7dokz77sc4u