Service of process via social media in civil cases: an exploration of the potential use of social media platforms for bringing notice to defendants in Belgium
In common law systems, there has recently been a trend to permit plaintiffs to serve process on defendants through social media networks. This trend raises the following question: Is this form of service also beneficial in civil law countries, in particular, Belgium? To answer this question, this A...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Marcial Pons
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Revista Ítalo-Española de Derecho Procesal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.revistasmarcialpons.es/rivitsproc/article/view/601 |
| _version_ | 1828239321899991040 |
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| author | Cedric Vanleenhove |
| author_facet | Cedric Vanleenhove |
| author_sort | Cedric Vanleenhove |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
In common law systems, there has recently been a trend to permit plaintiffs to serve process on defendants through social media networks. This trend raises the following question: Is this form of service also beneficial in civil law countries, in particular, Belgium? To answer this question, this Article analyzes the conditions under which this type of service has been allowed by US courts, where most of the new development has occurred. This Article concludes that social media service may be a valuable additional means of notice when the defendant does not have a known address. In such circumstances, Belgian law currently prescribes service on the public prosecutor as the last resort method; however, service via social media platforms is far more effective at actually reaching the defendant. Consequently, the Belgian legislature could consider introducing social media service as a method supplementing service on the public prosecutor, provided the necessary safeguards are implemented.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:20:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-db114eee63474595a9d5a292c41e842f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2605-5244 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:20:49Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | Marcial Pons |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista Ítalo-Española de Derecho Procesal |
| spelling | doaj.art-db114eee63474595a9d5a292c41e842f2022-12-22T03:16:19ZengMarcial PonsRevista Ítalo-Española de Derecho Procesal2605-52442020-05-011Service of process via social media in civil cases: an exploration of the potential use of social media platforms for bringing notice to defendants in BelgiumCedric Vanleenhove0Department of Interdisciplinary Study of Law, Private Law and Business Law. Transnational Law Center. Faculty of Law – University of Ghent In common law systems, there has recently been a trend to permit plaintiffs to serve process on defendants through social media networks. This trend raises the following question: Is this form of service also beneficial in civil law countries, in particular, Belgium? To answer this question, this Article analyzes the conditions under which this type of service has been allowed by US courts, where most of the new development has occurred. This Article concludes that social media service may be a valuable additional means of notice when the defendant does not have a known address. In such circumstances, Belgian law currently prescribes service on the public prosecutor as the last resort method; however, service via social media platforms is far more effective at actually reaching the defendant. Consequently, the Belgian legislature could consider introducing social media service as a method supplementing service on the public prosecutor, provided the necessary safeguards are implemented. http://www.revistasmarcialpons.es/rivitsproc/article/view/601publicitynotificationsummonsevidence |
| spellingShingle | Cedric Vanleenhove Service of process via social media in civil cases: an exploration of the potential use of social media platforms for bringing notice to defendants in Belgium Revista Ítalo-Española de Derecho Procesal publicity notification summons evidence |
| title | Service of process via social media in civil cases: an exploration of the potential use of social media platforms for bringing notice to defendants in Belgium |
| title_full | Service of process via social media in civil cases: an exploration of the potential use of social media platforms for bringing notice to defendants in Belgium |
| title_fullStr | Service of process via social media in civil cases: an exploration of the potential use of social media platforms for bringing notice to defendants in Belgium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Service of process via social media in civil cases: an exploration of the potential use of social media platforms for bringing notice to defendants in Belgium |
| title_short | Service of process via social media in civil cases: an exploration of the potential use of social media platforms for bringing notice to defendants in Belgium |
| title_sort | service of process via social media in civil cases an exploration of the potential use of social media platforms for bringing notice to defendants in belgium |
| topic | publicity notification summons evidence |
| url | http://www.revistasmarcialpons.es/rivitsproc/article/view/601 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cedricvanleenhove serviceofprocessviasocialmediaincivilcasesanexplorationofthepotentialuseofsocialmediaplatformsforbringingnoticetodefendantsinbelgium |