In the past 25 years, legal thought has considerably evolved. Traditional narratives have been supplemented by other visions, which are driven by technological innovation. In those latter perspectives, social regulation is the result of a complex process in which information technology embodies a crucial factor, as well as does legislation. In this contribution we address, according to such a perspective, the problem of the “request to intervene” in the so-called “Industry 4.0”. Firstly, we provide a theoretical model, centred on the concept of technological design, overarching the current relationship between law and technology, individual and society, moral values, and quality standards. Secondly, we examine how design, according to such a model, can shape the interaction between humans and machines, bringing new means of social control, especially in critical conditions. Furthermore, we discuss the problems emerging in industrial production, where most of the current “disruptive technologies” are deployed.
