The impact of technology and digitalization on human rights is a critical area of concern in today’s society. As technology continues to evolve, it plays a significant role in shaping the landscape of human rights, both positively and negatively. On the one hand, advancements in technology have the potential to enhance the protection of human rights. For example, biometric identification systems can secure access to essential services, remote sensing and IoT devices can provide ongoing environmental monitoring, and data analytics can help identify patterns of discrimination or inequality in various sectors.
- Date
- Wednesday 10 Jun 2026, 15:00 - Thursday 11 Jun 2026, 23:59
- Type
- Workshop
- Spoken Language
- English
However, technology can also have negative impacts. For instance, surveillance technologies can lead to invasive monitoring of individuals, infringing on privacy rights and enabling authoritarian regimes to suppress dissent. Additionally, the proliferation of social media can facilitate the spread of hate speech and misinformation, potentially inciting violence and discrimination against marginalized groups. Furthermore, the rise of automation and artificial intelligence in the workplace can result in job displacement, posing a threat to the right to work for many individuals. Simultaneously, the resource-intensive infrastructure required to support most of these technologies can negatively affect the right to live in a healthy environment.
Furthermore, the digital divide remains a pressing issue. Not everyone has equal access to technology and the internet, which can exacerbate existing inequalities. Individuals without digital literacy or access to online resources may find themselves further marginalized and unable to benefit from the advancements that technology offers. This disparity can impede their ability to engage with legal systems and access justice. Additionally, the lack of representation in the development of technology and the data used to inform it can lead to further alienation and discrimination. The digital divide is compounded by the actions of private actors, particularly large businesses, whose platforms shape access to technology and create barriers for users. Their influence extends not only to citizens but also to governments, granting these businesses significant control over who is included or excluded from access to technology, thereby hindering the protection to human rights.
In the Netherlands, these challenges are becoming increasingly relevant. Digitalization alters the relationship between governments and citizens, as governmental actors use AI tools and data to profile citizens and run the risk of exacerbating discrimination against marginalized groups. We have seen examples of tensions between profiling and non-discrimination in digital systems used by the Dutch Tax Authorities (Belastingdienst) and the Dutch Border Control Police (Koninklijke Marechaussee). Collaborations in technology between state actors and private actors leads to widespread data collection, which can complicate the respect of citizens’ human rights. This situation necessitates complex oversight of algorithms and privacy measures (Dutch Data Protection Authority). Additionally, it is essential to ensure non-discrimination (NJCM) and to address barriers to accessing the judiciary (Council of State).
The 2026 Toogdag, hosted by Erasmus School of Law and its Erasmus Center of Law and Digitalization, will explore these themes in depth. The plenary sessions will address the broader implications of technology on human rights, while parallel sessions will focus on specific themes related to the digital age, business, migration, climate, and economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as areas of Dutch law such as administrative and criminal law. The program also welcomes contributions in Dutch, reflecting the inclusive nature of the discussions
Program
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 | PhD Event
Campus Woudestein | Erasmus University Rotterdam
| Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 15:30 – 16:15 | LinkedIn workshop Dr. Masuma Shahid | Langeveld 1.08 |
| 16:15 – 16:30 | Break | |
| 16:30 – 17:30 | Speed networking with previous PhD students | Langeveld 1.08 |
| 18:30 | Dinner for speakers at the Toogdag | Restaurant Fjord Eat and Drink |
Thursday, June 11, 2026 | Annual Conference
Campus Woudestein | Erasmus University Rotterdam
| Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:45 | Registration & Coffee | Theil CB-4 |
| 9:45 – 10:00 | Welcome and Opening | Theil CB-4 |
| 10:00 – 11:00 | Keynote Daniel Pap (Secretariat of the Committee on Artificial Intelligence, Council of Europe) | Theil CB-4 |
| 11:00 – 11:15 | Coffee & Tea Break | |
| 11:15 – 12:15 | Parallel Sessions I | |
Legal Challenges Across Health, Environment & Society Taking Stock of Dutch E-Waste Governance Through the Lens of Prevention Resisting Coloniality at the Intersection of Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence: Towards a Solidarity-Based Conception of Human Rights Law The Patients’ Rights Implications of Artificial Intelligence as a Decision Aid for Patients and Surrogates: A Scoping Review Data Transmission and Corporate Privacy in the Digital Age: Ships Waste Oil Collector and Others v the Netherlands | Theil C1-3 | |
Human Rights in the Digital Age Working Group Tarlach McGonagle (University of Amsterdam) & Silvia de Conca (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) | Theil C1-4 | |
Business & Human Rights Working Group Eva Meyermans Spelmans (Erasmus University Rotterdam), Silvia Ciacchi (Erasmus University Rotterdam) & Nicky Touw (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) | Theil C1-6 | |
| 12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch Break | |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Parallel Sessions II | |
Digitalization in (Criminal) Justice The right not to incriminate oneself and access to encrypted data – is a LLM chatbots in Courts: Challenges for Independence and Impartiality of a Judge, and the Limitations of Human Oversight Law Enforcement Use of Computer Vision and Human Rights Limitations Digital Pathways or Digital Barriers? Online Justice Mechanisms, Domestice Violence, and Gendered Barriers to Access to Justice | Theil C1-3 | |
Migration & Borders Working Group Diana Usmanova (Radboud University) & Nesli Soylu (Radboud University) | Theil C1-4 | |
Human Rights & the Climate Crisis Working group Samuel Ballin (Radboud University), Marlies Hesselman (University of Groningen), Monique van Cauwenberghe (University of Groningen) & | Theil C1-6 | |
| 15:00 – 15:15 | Coffee & Tea Break | |
| 15:15 – 16:15 | Parallel Sessions III | |
Who Deserves to Be Heard the Most? In Search of a Coherent Normative Framework for Journalism Privileges in the Digital Age Media & Activism Digital Securitisation and the Surveillance of Activism in Europe Harming Media Pluralism by User Choice: A Behavioural Law and Economics Analysis of the Right to Customise Media Offering on Devices and User Interfaces under EU Law | Theil C1-3 | |
Privacy & digital systems Responsive Citizens or A Responsive State? Skill Expectations as Barriers to Access Digital Public Services Safeguarding Human Rights Through Artificial Intelligence and Metaverse Regulation: A Roadmap For ASEAN Human Rights Integration Through Technological Governance Inspired by European Convention of Human Company-Induced Pushbacks: Do Private Entities Bear Responsibility for Geolocation Data Sharing that Enables Refoulements? Assessing non-material damages under the GDPR | Theil C1-4 | |
Economic, Social & Cultural Rights Working Group Lucas Dikkers (Radboud University), Luisa Netto (Leiden University) & | Theil C1-6 | |
| 16:15 – 17:15 | Plenary Panel | Theil CB-4 |
| 17:30 | Closing and Drinks | Theil CB-4 |
Downloads
Registration Form
- More information
Participation at the conference is free of charge but registration is required. Registration for non-speakers should be addressed to digitalization@law.eur.nl by May 1, 2026.
