This PhD position offers you the opportunity to conduct original, cutting-edge research in the project “Artificial Secrecy? Taking Transparency in EU Digital and Data Regulation Seriously”. This research project focuses on the balance struck between transparency and confidentiality rules regarding regulated digital technologies and data in the EU. The EU legal framework on digital technologies and data is made up of various EU regulations (ie. GDPR, DSA, DMA, DGA, DA and AIA) which all contain rules on transparency and the protection of confidentiality.

Your research will cast light on the rules that shape transparency regarding regulated digital technologies and data in the EU. You will have the chance of exploring the legal issues raised at the intersection of transparency and confidentiality, answering questions  such as:

• How does EU digital and data regulation achieve transparency and for whom exactly?
• How does this EU regulation protect confidential information of regulated actors?
• Which balance has been struck between transparency and confidentiality and does it conform with European fundamental rights?
• How can freedom of information requests support public interest research and override confidentiality claims?

In addition to legal-doctrinal and normative research, you will embark on small-scale empirical research by documenting and analysing freedom of information requests. The project will host two workshops. In the first workshop you have the opportunity to exchange first-hand with academic scholars working on this topic. In the second workshop you will obtain practical insights into how civil society and journalists approach and use public interest research in their work.

This project is funded by the Dutch National Research Foundation NWO.

What you will do

You will work on a legal PhD thesis at the Institute for Information Law (IViR), Amsterdam Law School, University of Amsterdam. Your PhD research is part of a research project under the supervision of Dr. Kristina Irion and a supervisory team. You will explore transparency of regulated digital technologies and data in the EU in individual articles that are finally included and bundled in your doctoral thesis.

Next to your PhD research, you will contribute actively to the activities of IViR, for instance by participating in workshops, organizing lectures and contributing to joint activities. To develop your teaching skills, you can also be involved in light teaching or student supervision tasks.

More specifically, you are expected to:

• Conduct academic research on transparency of regulated digital technologies and data in the EU, culminating in a PhD thesis (based on a minimum of 4 papers or a monograph);
• Present your research in academic conferences, expert sessions, etc.;
• Contribute to the organization of two workshops and empirical research, to the project website and project-related output such as blog posts;
• Contribute to the public debate and organize outreach activities addressing algorithmic transparency and data access for public interest research;
• Collaborate with other IViR researchers and participate in other IViR activities.