EFFECTIVE CONSUMER PROTECTION IN THE ALGORITHMIC AND DIGITAL ERA

L'effettiva tutela dei consumatori nell'era algoritmica e digitale

IACL REGIONAL CONFERENCE–PAVIA, ITALY, NOVEMBER 19–20, 2026

The University of Pavia will host an international IACL Regional Conference on November 19–20, 2026. Across four sessions, scholars from Italy, Spain and Uruguay will examine how consumer protection works in markets shaped by algorithms and digital platforms. The topics include manipulation and artificial intelligence, digital contracting and platforms, the electronic marketing of financial services, and collective redress in Europe.

The timing is notable. The European Commission has tentatively scheduled its proposal for a Digital Fairness Act for November 11, 2026, eight days before the conference opens. Several issues the Act is expected to address, including dark patterns, subscription traps and covert advertising, are on the program, and the closing lecture covers the Act directly.

The conference is held under the auspices of the International Association of Consumer Law. Its Scientific Director is Prof. Alfredo Ferrante of the University of Pavia, a member of the IACL Board.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Dates: Thursday, November 19 (afternoon) and Friday, November 20 (morning), 2026

Day 1 venue: Aula Magna, Collegio Giasone del Maino, Via Luino 4, 27100 Pavia

Day 2 venue: Aula Ugo Foscolo, Palazzo Centrale, University of Pavia, Via Strada Nuova 65, 27100 Pavia

Getting there: Pavia is about 45 minutes from Milan.

Admission: Free. Registration is mandatory.

Lawyers practicing in Italy: Register through the SFERA platform. The Pavia Bar Council has accredited the event for 8 continuing education credits (4 per day).

All other participants: Register by email to alfredo.ferrante@unipv.it

Language: Some presentations will be given in Spanish.

PROGRAM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19–AULA MAGNA, COLLEGIO GIASONE DEL MAINO

14:40–Registration

Opening

15:00–Institutional Greetings

• Stefano Colloca, Rector, Collegio Giasone del Maino, University of Pavia
• Michele Madonna, Director, Department of Law, University of Pavia
• Umberto Stefini, Coordinator, PhD Program in Private Law, Business, Labor, Ancient Law and European Legal Culture, University of Pavia

15:15–Introduction

• Alfredo Ferrante, University of Pavia
• Cláudia Lima Marques, former President of the IACL

15:30–SESSION I: The Consumer in the Digital Economy: Manipulation, Artificial Intelligence and New Asymmetries

Chair: Vito Rizzo, University of Perugia

• The Weaker Party in the Digital Landscape–Lorenzo Mezzasoma, University of Perugia
• Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Decision-Making–Amanda Carotti, University of Perugia
• Digital Disclosure and Covert Advertising–Monica Pucci, University of Perugia
• Dark Patterns and Manipulated Consent–Erica Adamo, University of Parma
• Food Algorithms and Consumer Protection–Ezequiel Mendieta, University of Pavia
• Discussion and Q&A

17:00–Break

17:30–SESSION II: Digital Contracting, Representation and Platforms

Chair: Paolo Martinello, IULM

• Business Representation in Consumer Contracting: Who Remains Bound to the Consumer?–José Luis Pérez-Serrabona González, University of Granada, Spain
• Intermediaries, Agents and Digital Platforms–Segismundo Torrecillas López, University of Granada, Spain
• Fake Reviews, Inaccurate Rankings and Sponsored Recommendations–Estrella Toral Lara, University of Salamanca, Spain
• Digital Subscriptions, Automatic Renewals and Impossible Cancellations: The Problem of So-Called Subscription Traps–Francesco Rizzo, University of Camerino
• Discussion and Q&A

19:00–Close of Day One

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20–AULA UGO FOSCOLO, PALAZZO CENTRALE, UNIVERSITY OF PAVIA

09:00–SESSION III: Electronic Marketing of Financial Products and Services
Chair: Giovanni Petroboni, University of Pavia

• Mitigation of Damages in Electronic Marketing–Andrés Mariño López, Universidad de la República, Uruguay
• Algorithmic Profiling and Data Analytics in Financial Markets–Giovanni Berti De Marinis, University of L'Aquila
• Decisions of the Banking and Financial Ombudsman (ABF) and Consumer Protection–Giuliano Mattace, University of Parma
• Open Banking, Crypto-Assets and Customer Protection–Luca di Nella, University of Parma
• Discussion and Q&A

10:30–Break

11:00–SESSION IV: Justice for the Consumer: Collective Redress and New European Perspectives
Chair: Alfredo Ferrante, University of Pavia

• Class Actions and Consumer Representative Actions–Laura Bugatti, University of Brescia
• Collective Representation and the Standing of Qualified Entities–Gabriel Ballesta Luque, University of Granada, Spain
• Alternative Dispute Resolution and Digital Justice–Emanuela Maio, University of Parma
• The Role of Consumer Associations in Individual and Collective Consumer Protection–Carmelo Calì, National President, Confconsumatori
• The Digital Fairness Act and the Future of European Consumer Law–Eugenio Llamas Pombo, University of Salamanca, Spain
• Discussion and Q&A

13:00–Closing

SCIENTIFIC DIRECTION

Prof. Alfredo Ferrante

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Prof. Vito Rizzo (Honorary President), Prof. Giovanni Berti de Marinis, Prof. Eugenio Llamas Pombo, Prof. Andrés Mariño López, Prof. Lorenzo Mezzasoma, Prof. José Luis Pérez-Serrabona González, Prof. Javier Pérez-Serrabona González, Prof. Francesco Rizzo

ORGANIZING SECRETARIAT

Dr. Francesca Capuano, Dr. Eleonora Marconi, Ezequiel Mendieta, Lelia Díaz, Laila Moliterno

In collaboration with EDISU. Under the auspices of the International Association of Consumer Law.

SEE ALSO: IACL at the XVIII Brazilian Congress of Consumer Law–Fortaleza, Brazil, November 17–19, 2026