Skip to the main content

Beatriz Botero Arcila is an Assistant Professor of law in the digital information economy at Sciences Po Law School and Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.

Her research focuses on the governance of data and artificial intelligence. Current work on data governance focuses on data intermediaries, the European Data Strategy, and the balancing of competing interests such as privacy and transparency. Current work on AI regulation focuses on AI liability and the rise of new “AI” governors like standard-setting bodies and auditing firms.

Previous research projects have focused on data governance in cities and smart city strategies, such as the governance of digital surveillance tools, data sharing agreements between private and public actors, development projects like Sidewalk Toronto and Barcelona’s Data Commons; the governance of contact tracing apps and the impact of social media on fundamental rights (Link to SSRN https://bit.ly/3gUVZfw).

Beatriz is also co-founder of The Edgelands Institute, an interdisciplinary institute focused on understanding and raising awareness of how the digitization of security is transforming - for both the better and worse - coexistence in different cities around the world. Edgelands is a multicultural team of +20 people operating in Cúcuta, Medellín, Geneva and Nairobi. In each of these cities, Edgelands conducts local research, designs and implements research/action workshops with local youth and artists on digital surveillance and security, and engages with local stakeholders. Check out our work at edgelands.institute!

Beatriz is also a music-lover and a classically trained pianist.


Projects & Tools

Digital Identity

Exploring the ethical and human rights considerations of digital identity.


News

Mar 30, 2023

Digital Identity During Times of Crisis

What We Learned During the Fall 2022 Research Sprint

BKC hosted a 10-week Research Sprint from October to December 2022 investigating Digital Identity in Times of Crisis, in collaboration with partners metaLAB at Harvard, the…


Community

Journal of Free Speech Law

Is it a Platform? Is it a Search Engine? It's Chat GPT! The European Liability Regime for Large Language Models

BKC Faculty Associate Beatriz Botero Arcila examines the question of how to regulate large language models to minimize risks while still allowing for potential…

Aug 25, 2023
Think Tank European Parliament

Social media platforms and challenges for democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights

BKC Faculty Associate Beatriz Botero Arcila and collaborator Rachel Griffin release a study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and…

Apr 3, 2023
Medium

The fight over our post-COVID future should be as much about welfare as it is about tech

Surveillance thrives in unequal environments, and the pandemic will increase inequality. We need a welfare state for our digital information economy, argues Beatriz Botero Arcila.

May 18, 2020
Americas Quarterly

Latin America Hopes Big Data Can Beat the Virus. But There Are Risks.

Beatriz Botero Arcila warns that while location data might help address the coronavirus outbreak, it also threatens the privacy of citizens.

Apr 21, 2020
Medium

We need privacy and data laws to tackle this global pandemic

Governments are increasingly using digital technologies and big data analytics to address the Covid-19 pandemic. At this stage of the pandemic, these technologies may not…

Mar 18, 2020
Medium

The system is rigged against users

Another reason why getting compensated for data is not a good idea

BKC fellow Beatriz Botero Arcila on why getting compensated for your personal data is not a good idea.

Feb 24, 2020

Events

Apr 22, 2021 @ 9:00 PM

Edgelands Institute APAC Launch

INTRODUCING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY POP-UP INSTITUTE

The Edgelands Institute is an interdisciplinary pop-up institute to redraw our social contract in our era of mass-urbanization, surveillance, pandemics, and other emergencies,…

Event
Apr 8, 2021 @ 1:00 PM

Edgelands Institute Launch Event

Introducing an interdisciplinary pop-up institute

The Edgelands Institute is an interdisciplinary pop-up institute to redraw our social contract in our era of mass-urbanization, surveillance, pandemics, and other emergencies,…