Between Your Rights and Bytes
29 January 2026
16:00 - 17:30
Speakers' Corner
Is Europe ready to govern the age of algorithms?
This critical question lies at the heart of our next panel discussion. Join leading experts from policy and technology as we explore how Europe is navigating the complex intersection of digital rights, AI, privacy, and online governance. The discussion will be expertly moderated by Linda Louis, Professor in Law and Technology from THUAS. The aim is to offer the audience a balanced, accessible conversation that addresses the ethical, legal, and societal dimensions shaping the digital future in Europe.
Decoding Responsible AI and the EU AI Act
One central challenge we face is ensuring that algorithms—the simple, logical plans that power our modern apps and digital systems—are used responsibly and respect fundamental human rights.
To address this head-on, we will look at crucial tools like the FRAIA (Fundamental Rights and Algorithm Impact Assessment), created by our first panel expert, Iris Muis (team-lead at Data School of Utrecht University).
The FRAIA is a practical framework designed specifically for checking high-risk algorithms to prevent harm to people's rights. Its profound importance is underscored by the fact that it inspired Article 27 of the EU AI Act, the major new European law on AI.
Policy in Practice, Practice in Lobbying
Through the unique lens of our second expert, Mendeltje van Keulen (head of “Changing Role of Europe” Research Group), we will examine the real-world obstacles to effective governance. This includes tackling the significant influence of tech company lobbying in Brussels and the pressing need to ensure that smaller organizations have the same access and resources as large corporations to understand and comply with these vital new rules.
Ultimately, this session aims to spark discussion and provide clarity on how technology is not just changing, but fundamentally reshaping our daily lives and the very way we are governed.
Registration
As always, it's free for students and staff! Please sign up:
Mendeltje van Keulen
Dr. Mendeltje van Keulen is an energetic professor of practice with a mission: connecting the work of professionals in EU affairs, academic and applied research into their work, and (vocational) education.
As lector of the applied research group Changing Role of Europe dr. Van Keulen analyzes the impact of EU policy on regions, municipalities, agencies, SMEs, and national governments. Currently, she also holds a Jean Monnet Chair “EU Digital policy in action”, further strengthening vocational education through applied research with students in the field of European knowledge and skills.
Amongst others, she previously served as a senior researcher at the Clingendael Institute and as a parliamentary clerk of the EU Affairs Committee, making the Dutch Parliament fit for the EU’s “Lisbon Treaty”.
Iris Muis
Iris Muis is an expert with over 10 years of experience in responsible AI and ethical data governance. She is one of the three inventors of the Data Ethics Decision Aid (DEDA), an ethical impact assessment tool for data projects, now in use at 50+ government organizations. Iris has also developed a tool to assess the impact of algorithms on human rights, the Fundamental Rights and Algorithms Impact Assessment (FRAIA). FRAIA was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry for the Interior and aims to bring together all existing frameworks regarding algorithms. In addition, it adds a new element to the ethical consideration: namely, the consideration of fundamental rights. This tool has become authoritative: the Dutch Parliament has passed two motions calling for FRAIA to be mandatory for government organizations, and the European Parliament took inspiration from FRAIA in the human rights impact assessment clause in the AI Act. She has developed and led 20+ FRAIA training sessions with 500+ participating professionals in the past 2 years.
An event by The Lighthouse
At The Lighthouse, you take a closer look at the world and maybe also at yourself. Always relevant, inspiring, and with a twist.
