The New Era of Lawyerless Contracting
22 July 2026
Contract generators, platforms, and AI are reshaping consumer contracts. Luka Nenadic explains how and highlights the potential pitfalls and policy implications.
Who we are
The Oxford Internet Institute (OII) is a multidisciplinary research and teaching department at the University of Oxford, dedicated to exploring the implications of emerging technologies for how people live, work and govern.
Latest news
How social media interoperability could restore user choice
15 July 2026
Social networking interoperability is a leading policy proposal that gives users a real choice of platform providers. New evidence shows it only works if regulators get the specifics right, argues Philipp Riederle, doctoral researcher, OII.
UK adults increasingly seek emotional support and companionship from AI, new report finds
9 July 2026
New analysis from researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute reveals that users of artificial intelligence tools are increasingly turning to them for personal support, emotional advice, and companionship.
What we do
We examine the opportunities and challenges posed by transformative innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital platforms, and autonomous agents.
Recent events
OII 25th Anniversary Founding Stories Panel
With Dr Andrew Graham, Professor Richard Susskind OBE, Professor William H. Dutton, Professor Helen Margetts, Dr Victoria Nash, and Dr Scott A. Hale
As part of the OII's 25th Anniversary celebrations, Dr Andrew Graham, Prof Richard Susskind, OBE, Prof Bill Dutton, Prof Helen Margetts and Dr Vicki Nash join us to look back on the early days of the OII.
OII 25th Anniversary Public Lecture. Dreaming of a Networked World: Reflections on the Political Economy of the Internet
With Dr danah boyd
In this talk, danah will weave through internet pasts, presents, and future to shed light on the good, bad, and ugly so that we may leverage our knowledge of what happened in pursuit of a more just and generous future.
AI is eroding junior roles… and commodification explains why
With Dr Fabian Stephany
The OII's Dr Fabian Stephany reflects on a recent LSE study that explored the relationship between remote work and AI automation pressure on specific job roles.
How we work
Our work is multidisciplinary and multi-method. We bring together diverse academic traditions to study the digital age through qualitative, quantitative and computational approaches.
Four graduate degrees
Our impact
Our work underpins teaching, policy and practice, generating analysis, evidence-based insights and practical tools that support informed and positive change.
Fairer gig work
With gig work rapidly expanding, how can research help make the platform economy fairer for workers?
Unlocking innovation through data access
How data concentration by dominant digital firms affects competition and innovation.
Teens and screens
The challenge: is screen time really harmful?
Latest projects
Stewardship of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies
The Synthetic Society Lab aims to improve how we research, access, and use sensitive human data. The fellowship will advance an evidence-based science of privacy engineering to make research using digital traces safe and reliable.
Worker Voice and AI Adoption
This project investigates how worker representation in German firms shapes AI use and adoption, asking whether employee voice at firms can steer AI toward complementing workers rather than automating them.
The Digital Lives of Care-experienced Children
This project investigates how digital skills develop in the absence of traditional family support structures and aims to identify any critical and overlooked gaps that emerge.
Latest report
By Florence Enock and Helen Margetts
New report finds UK adults increasingly seek emotional support and companionship from AI
Press coverage
Study: 38% open up to AI about relationships
The Deep View, 08 July 2026
Emotional support and advice have long been difficult to come by, prompting a growing number of people to turn to AI for more help, finds new research led by the OII's Dr Florence Enock.
How much is AI hacking your emotions?
FT, 09 July 2026
Disinformation and deepfakes are known risks but biased LLMs could also be used to influence public opinion with commentary from Prof. Sandra Wachter.
The public deserves socially beneficial technology in return for its AI investment
Computer Weekly, 08 July 2026
The public is in all but name a shareholder of AI companies - it is time that the public receives socially beneficial technology in return for its investment argues Prof. Sandra Wachter.
