Wes Damen
Speaking
Because most of my work is publicly funded, I try to regularly present my work to the public at academic conferences, research seminars, workshops and other public events. In my presentations, I focus on digital human rights, law & technology, its effects on society, data protection law, social security, and questions of legal history, legal theory and legal philosophy. Here is a selection of recent presentations that I've given.
| Performance: the lawyer 10 years of the Office of Joint Administrative Intelligence |
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As part of a performance by the artistic institution Office of Joint Administrative Intelligence, I performed the role of The Lawyer. In collaboration with artists Gary Farrelly and Chris Dreier. |
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| Sapientia et scientia data sunt Conference at VU University |
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Closing event of the 5-year program "Behoorlijke bejegening", funded by the GAK Institute. I presented some main findings of my PhD research. |
| Protection of digital human rights in secondary use of peoples' health data for research purposes in the European Union RightsCon 2025 |
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Together with colleagues Audrey van Scharen and Hanne Elsen, I presented our recent work on the complex web of legal and ethical challenges when using patients' health data for research and R&D purposes. We discussed gaps in the protection of individual rights in the specific field of health data research in the European Union. Before the presentation, we were critical of the EU and its legal landscape; following questions and comments, we were happy that we even have the EU and its regulatory energy. |
| Normativity and transparency in legal research methodology: on discours, milieu, and situated knowledge in legal research LUISS University - LabGov research team |
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Presentation at a research seminar on normativity and transparency in legal research methodology. Law schools and legal research are overwhelmingly populated by white, middle-to-upper class, urban professionals. Coupled with peer-review filtering radical voices and ideas, and the way that agenda's are set in legal academia, there is rarely any reflection on why and how we come to the agenda of investigations. We collectively discussed our role in society as legal researchers and how we could or should relate to these matters. With dr. Anna Berti Suman and prof. Christian Iaione, among others. |
| Welfare dystopia and the protection of personal data CES Conference 2024 |
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Presentation of draft articles and preliminary research results into 'welfare dystopias'. My contribution focused on the role of European data protection law in potentially facilitating the digital welfare states' crises. |
| Hans Kelsen and Carl Schmitt in contemporary digital rights research ISLSSL 10th Seminar on international and comparative labour- and social security law |
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A presentation about the nature of law and legal norms, related to current-day challenges in European data protection law and Dutch national social security law. |
| The Lawyer Assemblages Charbonnages invites OJAI: performances by Gary Farrelly and Merle Vorwald |
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As part of presentations and performances given by the artists Gary Farrelly and Merle Vorwald, I performed the role of their Lawyer. I instructed all 50 members of the audience on their rights and obligations, had them co-create art works unbeknowst to them, and made everyone sign an NDA. If they've kept their word, no documentation should be available in the hands of the public. |