Research team
Expertise
Freyja van den Boom is an expert in law, ethics, and governance of emerging technologies, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI), data, and more-than-human perspectives. Her research includes: AI and Law: Legal and ethical analysis of liability, transparency, and human rights concerning AI, with a focus on the EU AI Act and AI Liability Directive. AI Testbeds (Sandboxes): Legal and governance frameworks for real-world AI experimentation, with case studies in Belgium and across the EU. More-than-Human Legal Models: Exploration of legal personhood for AI, robots, and natural entities (e.g., rivers), in comparative dialogue with non-Western legal and philosophical frameworks. Data Ethics and Surveillance: Critical engagement with shadow profiling, identification by association, and algorithmic bias, highlighting their impact on structural inequality and power dynamics. Speculative Design and Futures Thinking: Development of participatory tools enabling citizens and policymakers to engage with AI futures. Climate justice and the societal implications of AI use in environmental governance. Transdisciplinary Collaborations: Research partnerships with universities in Europe and Japan, advancing context-sensitive, intersectional approaches to law and technology. Her work builds on an interdisciplinary academic background (PhD in Law, MSc in Sociology of Law, LLM in Intellectual Property Law) and practical experience in AI development, policy advising, and artistic residencies.