We are living in a time marked by accelerating technological innovation and use, which has an enormous impact in the increasingly complex global relations. From revolutionizing communication to transforming business and social practices, supporting effective access to justice and dispute resolution, technology has become an integral force shaping our interconnected world. There are many challenges that lie ahead that call for critical thinking and interdisciplinary research. In this Special Issue entitled Technology as a Connector of Organizations in a Socially Sustainable World, Tilburg Law Review explores the multifaceted role technology can have in shaping and connecting organizations in a socially sustainable way. The contributions to this issue see technology going beyond the status of a mere tool of efficiency or disruption. Technology is presented as a transformative force capable of reshaping organizational relationships and societal structures. The scope of technological influence is vast and multifaceted, and its impacts can be traced in various areas ranging from employment relations and corporate sustainability to procedural justice. This influence is visible, for instance, in the use of algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace and the rise of using technology as a medium to offer and manage work, with platform work as the epitome of this phenomenon. Similar patterns can be found in the use of blockchain to strengthen transparency in corporate practices and Environmental Social Governance (ESG)-related assessments, and in the ongoing digitalization of the justice systems, including the use of AI and online dispute resolution to enhance access to justice both in courts and through private or certified bodies.
Research can explore ways in which present issues in society can find an answer through a responsible use of technology that can serve as a bridge – linking institutions, stakeholders, and legal frameworks – in pursuit of a socially sustainable future. This invites critical reflection from different perspectives on whether and how digital infrastructures and innovations can support equitable, resilient, and inclusive societies. Can technology truly empower people and promote fairness and justice, or does it risk reinforcing existing inequalities, exclusions, and biases? Can technology enable infrastructures, (formal or informal) processes, and stakeholder relationships that support the capacity of future generations to create healthy, livable, equitable, connected, and democratic societies?
Understanding the influence of technology on connecting organizations and fostering social sustainability by putting people first in the development processes of our global economies is paramount. This Special Issue aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of this influence and the extent to which social inclusion, resilient societies and people’s empowerment are being promoted while addressing both its potential and limitations.
Taking as a starting point the Department of Private, Business and Labour Law research program Connecting Responsible Organizations, this issue brings together interdisciplinary perspectives from contract law, consumer law, business law, labor law, and law and technology. Through these lenses, we aim to give ground to the authors to deepen our understanding of the legal, ethical, and practical dimensions of technology’s connective potential. Before turning to the individual contributions, it is worth noting that the papers selected for this call collectively engage with these aims by providing interdisciplinary insights into how technology can serve as a connector of organizations in a pursuit of socially sustainable world where individuals and communities are placed at the center. They also provide a diverse perspective and reflect the richness of disciplines that are considering technology advancement and the opportunities and limitations that the digital transformation is offering.
The contributions to this Special Issue of the Tilburg Law Review address these questions from distinct yet complementary angles.
In their contribution ‘Toward A Less Incomplete Contract: Merging Smart Contracts and ESG Metrics Contracts’, Fernanda Meirelles and Bruno Vieira explore the potential of smart contracts to enhance environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics into contracts. By examining the limitations of traditional contracts and the promise of blockchain-based solutions, they propose technological tools, such as oracles and upgradeable contracts, that can improve contractual completeness and accountability. Their work directly addresses the call of using technology to support sustainable corporate governance and stakeholder engagement.
Complementing this technologically driven perspective on governance structures, the next contribution ‘Technology Expertise in the Dutch Boardroom: Legal and Text Analytical Findings’ shifts from contractual innovation to the competencies required within organizations to navigate such digital transitions responsibly. In it, Titiaan Keijzer and Anne Lafarre provide an empirical and legal analysis of digital expertise in Dutch boardrooms. They use text analytics to reveal gaps in technological competence among corporate directors, despite growing digital demands. This paper contributes to the broader discussion on corporate transparency and the need for digitally literate leadership to navigate complex technological landscapes responsibly.
Paul Verbruggen and Amber Schuijers build on this focus on organizational responsibility and transparency in their paper ‘Greenwashing the Aviation Industry? On the lawful use of ‘Sustainable Aviation Fuel’ Claims in Airline Advertising under European Consumer Law’, which examines how technological claims can shape consumer trust and how the law can safeguard against misleading practices in rapidly evolving markets. Verbruggen and Schuijers analyze the tension between technological innovation and consumer protection in their analysis of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) claims. Their paper highlights how EU consumer law can act as a safeguard against greenwashing, ensuring that environmental claims in airline advertising are substantiated and transparent. This contribution aligns with the Special Issue’s focus on corporate sustainability and the responsible use of technology in shaping public perceptions and market behavior.
Extending the lens from consumer law to labor law, Juliana Londoño explores how technological developments can transform labor relations across jurisdictions. In her paper ‘Adopting a Universal Mandate on Platform Work: Balancing Contrasting Realities’ she offers another perspective on technology and its impact. The author proceeds to a global mapping of institutional responses to platform work, emphasizing the contrasting realities between the Global North and South. Her analysis underscores the importance of context-sensitive regulation and the challenges of adopting universal labor standards. This contribution resonates with the issue’s emphasis on decent work, digital inclusion, and the role of technology in shaping equitable labor markets.
Technology not only reshapes work and markets but also access to justice and dispute resolution. The next contribution by Elena Alina Onţanu and Eric Tjong Tjin Tai turns to questions of procedural justice. In the article ‘Digital Technology and Procedural Justice: Towards a Geography of Justice’, the authors examine how digital technologies, from digitization to AI and blockchain, are transforming dispute resolution. While innovations promise enhanced access, reduced costs, and speed, they raise concerns about transparency, power imbalances, and diminished in-person adjudication. Drawing on Article 6 ECHR standards, their paper proposes a pluralistic landscape – a “geography of justice” framework – that balances technological efficiency with fundamental rights protection. This work directly engages with the theme of sustainable procedural justice and the design of inclusive, tech-enabled legal infrastructures to respond to societal needs for fair outcomes and justice through court and out-of-court procedures.
Finally, moving from dispute resolution to law enforcement, the closing contribution ‘Cross-Border Evidence Gathering in Criminal Crypto Investigations: A Case Study of The Netherlands’ highlights how technological transformation also affects cross-border cooperation and the gathering and use of evidence in criminal investigations. In her paper, Tessa van Roomen investigates the legal and practical challenges of cross-border evidence gathering in criminal crypto investigations. Her case study of the Netherlands reveals jurisdictional deadlocks and the need for innovative cooperation mechanisms. This paper contributes to the issue’s exploration of digitalization in law enforcement and the complexities of regulating decentralized technologies.
Together, these contributions show the diverse ways in which technology is connecting organizations, reshaping societal structures, and challenging existing legal frameworks. They demonstrate how technological developments can foster social sustainability while also revealing the limitations, risks, and tensions that accompany digital transformation. By approaching the theme from multiple perspectives and disciplines, this Special Issue underscores the importance of placing individuals and communities at the heart of technological and organizational innovation, and the need to continuously reflect on how technology can support responsible, equitable, and future-oriented organizational practices.
Competing Interests
Elena Alina Ontanu is also an author of one of the papers published in the Special Issue, but was not involved in the paper evaluation process nor the assignment of reviewers.