Peter van de Waerdt

Peter van de Waerdt is a Lecturer in Technology Law and Competition Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Groningen, where he is also a PhD candidate in the Transboundary Legal Studies department. His academic work bridges data protection law and competition law, focusing on the challenges posed by dominant digital platforms and the interdependence between personal data and market power.

Education:

• LLM in International and European Law, University of Groningen (focus: European human rights law)
• Research LLM, University of Groningen (thesis: "The Economic Value of Personal Data in European Law")
• Study period at George Washington University, Washington D.C. (2014, focus: American fundamental rights)
• PhD candidate at the University of Groningen (since September 2016, supervisors: Prof. G.P. Mifsud Bonnici and Prof. H.H.B. Vedder)

His research interests revolve around the legal and economic dynamics of data-driven markets, particularly how large online platforms leverage personal data to consolidate market dominance. He critically examines the limitations of existing regulations such as the GDPR and explores how competition law can be strengthened in conjunction with data protection frameworks. His work engages with emerging EU legislation like the Digital Markets Act and investigates structural issues such as information asymmetry, data ecosystems, and consumer lock-in.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating competition and data protection law, emphasizing that data is not just a privacy concern but a source of market power. Articles like "Data is Power" and "Reinforcing data protection and competition through art. 6(2) of the Digital Markets Act" argue for a more holistic regulatory approach. His scholarship is published in leading journals such as International Review of Law and Economics, World Competition, and Computer Law & Security Review.

Scientific Recognition:

• Media expert commentary on his PhD thesis (November 2024)
• ORCID: 0000-0002-4069-935X
• Active presence in academic databases (Scopus, Research Portal, Pure)

Peter van de Waerdt contributes to both teaching and research at the University of Groningen. While no formal advisees are listed, his supervisory experience is evident through his role in guiding legal discourse on digital market regulation. He has not received specific named awards yet, but his work has garnered significant academic attention, including over 30 Scopus citations for his 2020 article and widespread downloads of his thesis. His research is aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to justice, inequality, and responsible innovation.

He is affiliated with the Transboundary Legal Studies group, which focuses on global legal challenges, and contributes to shaping regulatory responses to digital platform power. His future work is expected to further influence EU digital policy and interdisciplinary legal scholarship at the intersection of law, economics, and technology.