Zsolt Ződi, research professor at the Institute of the Information Society, was awarded a doctorate by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA). His academic doctoral thesis provides a comprehensive and innovative analysis of the operation and legal regulation of online platforms such as Google, Meta, and Amazon.
According to the description on the MTA website, Zsolt Ződi's dissertation shows that the world of platforms can no longer be fitted into the framework of traditional branches of law, and therefore "platform law" can be interpreted as a separate, new area of law. According to the author, platforms are not merely intermediaries, but systems that use algorithms to control and organize user and market processes—this is what he calls "algorithmic coordination." This realization places the legal approach to the digital environment on a new footing.
The explanatory memorandum further explains that the thesis focuses on user protection, transparency, and the verifiability of algorithmic decisions. It presents the regulatory models of the European Union and the United States in detail and, based on these, makes proposals for the development of a future legal framework. Among the most important results of the research are the development of proposals for strengthening algorithmic transparency, modernizing accountability systems, and promoting international legal cooperation. The description also highlights that Zsolt Ződi's work is an outstanding contribution to legal thinking in the digital age, as it helps to understand in an accessible way how the operations of technology giants can be regulated in a way that serves the interests of society as a whole.
The research professor deals with legal issues of the information society at the research institute, in particular the regulation of internet platforms and artificial intelligence, as well as the application of modern technologies in legal work. His research focuses on the connection between legal theory, technology, and the digital environment, such as the relationship between big data, algorithms, and law. He has published numerous monographs and studies in Hungarian and foreign languages on platform law, the legal explainability of algorithms, legal language, and the impact of technology on the legal system. During his career, he has worked at several universities and research institutes and has held leading positions in the legal publishing sector. He holds a law degree, a professional qualification, a PhD, and a habilitation. He is a member of the editorial board of several scientific journals, president of the IT section of the Hungarian Lawyers' Association, and Hungarian ambassador to the European Legal Technology Association (ELTA).
Applications for the title of Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences have been accepted since 1995. The Academy may award this title to individuals who, among other things, hold an academic degree, have contributed to their field of study with original scientific results since obtaining their degree, are known and recognized by leading domestic and international scientific circles in their field, have carried out outstanding scientific research, and have summarized their scientific achievements in a doctoral thesis.
Text: Éva Harangozó