eLaw – Center for Law and Digital Technologies
Research
eLaw is a research institute of interdisciplinary scholars who explore issues at the intersection of law, technology and society.
eLaw – Center for Law and Digital Technologies conducts multidisciplinary research at the intersection of law, ethics, society, and technology. Our team comprises legal scholars, social scientists, philosophers, and technology experts, enabling us to address complex research questions from diverse perspectives.
Areas of expertise
Our areas of expertise encompass the legal, ethical, and societal challenges posed by emerging technologies, from privacy and AI to cybersecurity, platform governance, and robotics, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their impact on society.
We delve into the legal frameworks that protect personal information in today’s digital world.
We examine critical issues such as gender, diversity, intersectionality, digital child rights and safety, vulnerability, power dynamics, and the interplay between disinformation and freedom of expression.
We investigate how digital platforms are regulated to ensure accountability and fairness.
We study how legal systems respond to cyber threats, support law enforcement, and address digital investigations.
We research the legal and ethical questions surrounding the interaction between humans and robots, machines, and autonomous systems.
We explore the regulation and legal implications of AI and big data, addressing challenges like algorithmic (in)justice.
We research technological advancements shaping the legal field, such as NLP, AI-driven analytics, and other types of automation, examining their impact on individuals, legal practice, and the law itself.
We explore the development and deployment of advanced aviation technologies, such as electric and autonomous aircraft, that aim to support safe, secure and sustainable mobility solutions for people across different societies.
Integration with Leiden Law School Research Programs
Research at Leiden Law School is organized into eight different research programs in which researchers from different (legal) disciplines work together. Out of all of them, eLaw’s research aligns with the program Effective Protection of Fundamental Rights in a Pluralist World, which explores the dynamics of institutional and normative diversity regarding fundamental rights protection against the backdrop of the socio-cultural, political, and economic pluralism that characterizes today’s world, both globally and locally. We also collaborate with programs such as Coherent Private Law, Criminal Justice and Exploring the Frontiers of International Law.
Research-Driven Education
eLaw’s research directly informs education at all levels, ensuring students gain cutting-edge insights into the latest developments in law and technology. This integration is particularly evident in our Advanced Masters in Law and Digital Technologies—a one-year international program for legal professionals and ambitious graduates. The program offers in-depth knowledge from international and interdisciplinary perspectives, preparing students to navigate the complexities of the digital age. Find out more information about this exciting program here.