Thanks to the invitation by Dr Silvia De Conca and Professor Arno R. Lodder, I had the valuable chance to spend the whole of September visiting the Amsterdam Law & Technology Institute (ALTI) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA).
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
During my visit, I had the opportunity to talk to many brilliant researchers, participated in many events, immersed myself in the vibrant academic environment at VUA, and also tasted traditional Dutch food (e.g., Bitterballen). This experience has greatly enriched my knowledge of life and research in Amsterdam. This experience helped me gain more perspective on the diversity of institutional styles across different cultures, offering me invaluable insights on how to navigate academia in the field of Law and Technology. Below, I will share the important moments of my visit, including team meetings, research discussions, teaching, and a few memorable trips exploring the Netherlands.
Special thanks to Dr Silvia De Conca
Attending team meetings at ALTI on Monday afternoons provided me with a precious opportunity to see first-hand how the institution operates, for example, how teaching is arranged in the Dutch higher education system (e.g., block-oriented teaching, dual-language courses), and learn knacks for interacting with students. The team meetings were helpful and would guide me to improve my work with CREATe too.
Usually over lunch, I enjoyed talking with some professors and other PhD fellows about our research interests. Our discussions covered a wide range of topics, from their research areas to my own work, such as the definition of ecosystem, digital addiction in different contexts, data-space regulation, and manipulative designs. It was fascinating to hear about their studies and exchange our opinions on the intersections between our research interests.
I also had the valuable opportunity to present my PhD work-in-progress at a workshop, and I presented on dark pattern regulation in video games from the EU digital regulations perspective, focusing on the concept of game dark patterns, and how I understand it from a business-model perspective. The feedback I received was incredibly valuable. I received recommendations on readings from Dr Eline Leijten and suggestions on improving my theoretical framework and reviewing the thesis structure from many other colleagues.
Thanks to Prof. Lodder and with support from Jessie, I had the chance to give a guest lecture on the Dutch Law and Technology course. I interacted with brilliant students on the topic of dark patterns and how these types are understood in the interactive entertainment industry. While not many of them were fans of video games, their reactions were encouraging, actively sharing their own approaches to the concept of dark patterns and understanding its complexity.
As part of my academic engagement, I had the chance to participate in some classes (including tutorials) on the Law and Technology course. I was able to systematically deepen my knowledge of the regulation of technology from technical, historical, and theoretical perspectives, also being exposed to different teaching styles along the way. I also attended some lectures given by other visiting scholars, on topics ranging from disinformation regulation from an international law perspective, to insights on proposed solutions to foreign information manipulation.
Beyond VU Amsterdam, I took the opportunity to visit other renowned academic institutions in the Netherlands. I had a wonderful visit to Utrecht University, where I met with Dr Cristiana Santos, and we talked about how her paper on systemic dark patterns inspired the structuring of my research. We also discussed other researchers I could visit in the future and potential collaborations. I also talked to Dr Inge Graef at Tilburg University, who generously gave me suggestions on useful readings from competition and consumer law perspectives, as well as leads on other researchers with similar interests I could approach.
Selfie with Dr Cristiana Santos
Selfie with Dr Inge Graef
Of course, no trip would be complete without a bit of exploration. I took some time to visit Giethoorn (thanks to the suggestions of Thibault and Georgiana), where I enjoyed a peaceful boat ride through the picturesque canals. The scenery was breath-taking (and made me want to rent a house there for vacation), and it was the perfect way to relax after an intense few days of academic discussions. I also spent some time in Rotterdam on my last day, a city known for its modern architecture (I really like the library with big yellow pipes). Despite the rainy day, I thoroughly enjoyed a city walk, marvelling at the futuristic vibe this city gives.
Rotterdam Public Library with cool big yellow pipes
A wee trip to Giethoorn
In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the team at ALTI for their invitation and warm hospitality during my stay (Dankjewel!). Special thanks to Dr Silvia De Conca for her support throughout my visit. This experience has been incredibly enriching, and I look forward to continuing the academic collaborations and friendships that were formed during this trip. I also extend my thanks to the CREATe team for offering financial support for my visit.
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