VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL

– VUB –

At the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), the multidisciplinary Research Group on Law, Science, Technology & Society (LSTS) was created in 2003 as an independent entity within the Faculty of Law & Criminology.  With more than 47 researchers at all levels of experience, LSTS has become a prominent European research institute in the area of technology regulation. LSTS has a well-established reputation in research concerning privacy and data protection, an area where the work done by LSTS researchers is highly influential. Other research areas at LSTS concern the impact of technologies and surveillance on fundamental rights in the Information Society, Intellectual property rights as they relate to the use of ICTs, the changing nature of law (digital legal theory) and the role of law in relation to science, technology and politics. LSTS researchers operate the Brussels Privacy Hub (www.brusselsprivacyhub.org), an internationally focused privacy research centre and the Privacy Salon, an NGO aiming at public awareness of privacy and other social and ethical consequences of new technologies. As part of the LSTS, researchers also operate the Brussels Laboratory for Data Protection & Privacy Impact Assessments, d.pia.lab, which connects basic, methodological and applied research, provides training and delivers policy advice related to impact assessments in the areas of innovation and technology development. Whilst legal aspects of privacy and personal data protection constitute our core expertise, the Laboratory mobilises other disciplines including ethics, philosophy, surveillance studies and science, technology & society (STS) studies. Predominantly the Laboratory’s knowledge and expertise will be utilised in the project. LSTS and its staff have wide experience with conducting research projects of both a basic and an applied nature. To the extent needed, the core team can also draw upon the expertise of further staff members as well as the general resources of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.