Jonida Milaj-Weishaar is Assistant Professor in Technology Law and Human Rights at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

Her research falls within the area of Human Rightsand Technology law and is hosted by the Security, Technology and e-Privacy (STeP) interdisciplinary research group. She has always linked her research to pressing societal needs and has actively presented her work in different academic international conferences and professional fora. Jonida has published (alone or in collaboration with others) in renowned peer reviewed international journals and edited volumes, like: European Journal of Law and Technology; International Review of Law, Computers and Technology; International Data Privacy Law; Computer Law and Security Review, etc. She also contributes as a reviewer to various international journals.

Jonida is currently involved in three H2020 projects: MIRROR, CRiTERIA and KnowGraphs and has contributed in drafting various successful joint research projects to which the STeP research group is part. Because of her field of studies and the projects she is involved in, Jonida has first-hand experience in collaborating with researchers from various disciplines and countries.

She teaches and coordinates various courses in the area of Technology Law. She has co-designed and is responsible for the teaching in the newly introduced Technology law track, of the LLB in International and European Law. She has designed new courses and supervises PhD, master’s, and bachelor dissertations in the area of Technology law. She has also co-designed the MOOC on ‘Understanding the GDPR’ that was evaluated in 2019 as the most successful course of all times of the ‘Future Learn’ platform. As of 2019, Jonida is a visiting lecturer at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing and offers annually a course on ‘Information Technology Law’.

Jonida completed her legal education at the University of Padua (Italy) and obtained an advanced LLM degree in European, International and Comparative Law from Maastricht University (the Netherlands). She defended her PhD thesis at the University of Groningen with a focus on surveillance of individuals with non-purpose built technology and devices, and the challenges that these create for the protection of the right to privacy.

Before starting her academic career, Jonida gained practical experience both at national institutions (Parliament of the Republic of Albania) and at international organisations (Council of Europe). Her work in non-academic institutions was composed of legal advice as well as of administrative tasks, which gave her a very good understanding of policymaking and policymakers – the way they work and their needs. She has been exposed to national and international learning, teaching and working experiences that have made her sensitive to cultural differences and needs and enable her to bring her international experience and insights at any collaborative projects.