Prof. Dr. Ben Wagner has been Professor of the Research Group Media, Technology and Society at Inholland since September 2021, within the Applied Research x Creativity Research Center. He is also Director of the AI Futures Lab on Rights and Justice at TU Delft and University Professor of Human Rights & Technology at IT:U.
Together with colleagues from the faculties of Technology, Design & Computer Science, Business, Finance & Law, and Creative Business, Ben founded the Inholland Digital Rights Research Team (DRRT) as well as the Sustainable Media Lab (SML) in The Hague. Both initiatives contribute to bridging the gap between research and education at Inholland. In addition, he is a member of the program board of the Centre of Expertise in Creative Innovation (CoECI) and is involved in the development of a new Master’s program in Data-Driven Business (DDB).
Ben actively seeks collaboration with partners from the public and private sector to explore alternative ways of organizing digital technologies and digital rights. This doesn't only involve media companies or tech-oriented organizations, but all parts of society. As the importance of digital technologies like AI grows in society, it is crucial to understand their impact in society and how citizens can gain greater control of technological change.
As digital infrastructures become increasingly complex, it is crucial that we strive towards more sustainable models which embed digital rights at the core of digital infrastructures. Ben Wagner, Professor Media, Technology & Society, delved into this topic during his inaugural lecture at Pakhuis de Zwijger. Read more about the lecture or watch the recording.
Watch the short animation video that Ben Wagner showed at the beginning of his inaugural lecture. This video shows that we live in a hybrid world where our digital human rights are being continuously violated.
In addition to his work at Inholland, Ben is Director of the AI Futures Lab on Rights and Justice at TU Delft and University Professor of Human Rights & Technology at IT:U. His research at Inholland focuses on digital rights, the governance of AI and the role of the public and non-profit sectors in times of technological change.
Ben has been conducting research at the intersection of social sciences, technology, and human rights for many years. In 2013, he earned his PhD from the European University Institute in Florence with a dissertation on freedom of expression and the regulation of online content. Since then, he has published extensively in leading international academic journals on topics such as digital media governance, the societal impact of technology, and how digital media systems can support human rights.
He founded the Center for Internet & Human Rights at the European University Viadrina and was Director of the Sustainable Computing Lab at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. He also served on the advisory board of ENISA, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity.
At Inholland, Ben and his team are involved in several major research projects, including ReSocial and fabricated. He is also a member of the policy advisory board for the European Cloud for Heritage OpEn Science (ECHOES).
Ben can often be found in the canals around Amsterdam, exploring the waterways with colleagues and imagining new ways to do academic research.
"We are at a time of great technological change and our experiences are changing as a result."
