I write a (mostly) weekly newsletter on tech extensity, regulatory failure, and the slow tangling of the systems we all depend on.
My friend calls me an ‘optimistic contrarian’, which is to say, I think we’re in a very dark place right now and it’s getting worse, but we can make it better if we don’t let nihilism defeat us. I’m neither an AI doomer, nor a techno-optimist, and I will snarkily call out bullshit on both sides when I see it.
I’ve been a journalist and a researcher, a lawyer, and an intel analyst. I served time at Palantir (2012-2014) and Meta (2018-2019). After leaving that behind, I’ve spent the past seven years atoning for my sins as a privacy and strategic consultant for technology companies and the public sector in Europe. This stuff isn’t academic for me; I know what works (and what doesn’t). And lately, a lot of things aren't working. So I've been spending time investigating how these systems actually operate, and I'm writing about what I find along the way.
Based in Utrecht. Available for advisory work, research collaborations, interesting projects, and speaking engagements.
Our world is increasingly shaped by entangled systems, and by the small cluster of companies and individuals who build them. The most obvious examples are AI and social media, but behind the scenes, extensity exists in the form of surveillance tools, satellite communications, and the algorithmic systems that judge who we are on a daily basis.
I’m worried about how this spread creates dependencies and erodes our rights and freedoms. I believe that left unchecked, this will lead to the deterioration of rule of law, democracy, and the gradual disempowerment of billions.
This isn’t a foregone conclusion—we don’t have to resign ourselves to this fate. It’s my hope that by putting a name and some shape around the problem, we can collectively arrive at a solution before it’s too late.
Strategic guidance on complex systems, privacy compliance, AI governance, and surveillance technology for organizations navigating regulatory complexity.
Deep-dive research into surveillance tech, data practices, and policy gaps. I dig deep, and I know where to look.
Bylines, white papers, conference keynotes, and expert commentary on privacy, AI, and tech policy.
(Mostly) weekly. Free. No fluff, no clickbait — just whatever's caught my attention in privacy, tech extensity, policy, and the tangle in between.
Advisory inquiries, research collaborations, speaking requests, or just a good conversation about where all this is heading.
(Mostly) weekly. Free. No tracking, no clickbait — just whatever's caught my attention in privacy, policy, and the tangle in between.
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