Dr. Rob van Eijk serves as the Future of Privacy Forum’s Managing Director for Europe. In this role, van Eijk implements FPF’s agenda in Europe. He oversees its day-to-day operations. He built and manages a small team in the Brussels office and manages relationships with stakeholders. Van Eijk is a technologist with an M.Sc. from the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, and a Ph.D. from the Institute for the Interdisciplinary Study of the Law, Leiden Law School, Leiden University, focusing on online advertising (real-time bidding).
Prior to serving in this position, van Eijk worked at the Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) as Senior Supervision Officer and (Lead) Technologist for nearly 10 years. He represented the Dutch DPA in international meetings such as the Technology Expert group of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and twice as a technical expert in court. He also represented all European Data Protection Authorities, assembled as the Article 29 Working Party (WP29), in the multi-stakeholder negotiations of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) on Do Not Track (DNT).
He was a guest professor at the Leiden University for three years (2021-2023). At the Leiden Centre of Data Science (LCDS), Faculty of Science, Leiden University, he developed and taught a lecture on Explainable AI in the Data Science Technical Track. And at the Centre for Professional Learning (CPL), Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, Leiden University, he developed and taught nine lectures in the Leiden Legal Technologies Program.
Fun facts:
- The young Rob completed the Belgian cycling classic of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Marmotte Granfondo Alpes twice. The latter has become the most important international cycling event of the summer in the French Alps after the Tour de France.
- He also chaired the organizing committee of the first Dutch Student Championships 1/4-triathlon.
Learn more about Rob’s work by reading Rob van Eijk Discusses Trends in European Privacy Discussions. Occasionally, you can find him on Mastodon.
IN THE MEDIA:
Current Affairs on Radio and TV
- Bouwma R. (2022). Ad fraud is billion dollar industry (in Dutch). In: Nieuwsuur. Hilversum: NOS-NTR Dutch Public Broadcast Services. [23m37s – 30m42s]
- Bruin E. de, (2021). Personal Health Apps (in Dutch). In: Max Meldpunt, Hilversum: Omroep Max. (11m28s – 25m06s).
- Galan M. de & Lemoine N. (2021). EU Digital Green Certificate (in Dutch). In: Nieuwsuur. Hilversum: NOS-NTR Dutch Public Broadcast Services. (00m00s – 13m35s).
- Schellevis J. & Trehy J. (2019). Meer en meer bedrijven kijken mee terwijl jij surft. In: NOS Radio 1 Journaal. Hilversum: NOS Dutch public broadcast services.
- Werven B. van (2019). De ochtendspits. In: BNR Nieuwsradio. Amsterdam: FD Media Group.
Podcasts
- Lebowsky J., Sweeney S., & Grossman W.M. (2023). Rob van Eijk: Hyper-nudging. In: Plutopia News Network. Austin, TX: Plutopia News Network.
- Royal K. & Breitbarth P. (2021). Predictions, Worries, and Wisdom from IAPP Brussel. In: Serious Privacy. Brussels: TrustArc.
- Carson A. (2019). The inside scoop on the future of online advertising. In: The Privacy Advisor Podcast. Washington, DC: : International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).
Quote in magazine/newspaper
2023
2022
- Akkermans I. (2022). Q&A expert online advertenties Rob van Eijk: ‘We komen nooit van online advertentiefraude af’. In: De Jurist. Amsterdam: FD Mediagroep.
- Bouwma R. (2022). ‘Tientallen miljarden gaan in rook op door online advertentiefraude.’ Hilversum: NOS Dutch public broadcast services.
- Manacourt V. & Kayali L. (2022). US-EU data transfers on life support after French Google decision. In: POLITICO Pro. Brussels: Politico.
- Olsthoorn P. (2022). Operatie geslaagd, patiënt overleden: Hoe VoetbalTV botste met de AP. In Netkwesties Magazine over maatschappij en internet. Netkwesties.nl.
2021
- Akinla A., Gulley A., Selvakumar K. & Tilsiter Z. (2021). Encryption: Pros and Cons. London: University College London Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP), Geneva: Internet Society.
- Bogosavac N. (2021). Met Googles afscheid van tracking cookies verandert voor consument weinig. Hilversum: NOS Dutch public broadcast services.
- Broeders R. (2021). Rotterdam stimuleert esports maar kan privacy van kinderen niet genoeg beschermen. In: Vers Beton. Rotterdam: Stichting Vers Beton.
- Budding A. (2021). Vrijdag in Meldpunt: Is de nieuwe gezondheidsapp PGO wel veilig? In: MedicalFacts.nl. Oss: Stichting MedicalFacts.
- Galan M. de & Lemoine N. (2021). Brussel wil coronareispas, maar wat je er straks echt mee kunt is nog de vraag (Brussels wants corona travel pass, but what you can really do with it remains to be seen). In: Nieuwsuur. Hilversum: NOS-NTR Dutch public broadcast services.
- Manacourt V. (2021). Dutch DPA gets boost. In: POLITICO Pro Cyber Insights. Brussels: Politico.
- n.d. (2021). Future of Privacy Forum Launches Asia-Pacific Region Office, Global Data Protection Expert Clarisse Girot Leads Team. Washington: Targeted News Service LLC.
- n.d. (2021). Zijn de nieuwe medische PGO-apps veilig? Hilversum: Max Meldpunt, Omroep Max.
2020
- Alarcon N. (2020). En la guerra contra el coronavirus, Europa está perdiendo la batalla de la privacidad. In: El Confidencial. Madrid: Titania Compañía Editorial, S. L.
- Chadwick L. (2020). Will microchip implants be the next big thing in Europe? In: Euronews. Lyon: Euronews.
- Drozdiak N. (2020). Creepy Technologies Invade European Post-Pandemic Workplaces. In: Bloomberg. London: Bloomberg.
- Fouquet H. & Drozdiak N. (2020). What will the post-pandemic workplace look like? Europe offers a creepy glimpse. In: Fortune. New York, NY: Fortune.
- Hofmans T. (2020). E-privacyverordening biedt meer helderheid over cookiewalls. In: Tweakers. Amsterdam: Tweakers.
- Knoke F. (2020). Endzeit für das Tracking. Was kommt nach der CookieCapolypse? In: CHIP Plus. München: CHIP Communications. Vol. 12-2020.
- Manacourt V. (2020). Data retention. Judges put the ‘EU’ back in data retention. In: POLITICO Pro Cyber Insights. Brussels: Politico.
- Manacourt V. (2020). Major ad company drops cookies. A switch by a Dutch firm to contextual advertising signals a shift away from the behavioral model that has dominated online advertising. In: Politico Pro. Brussels: Politico.
- Manacourt V. (2020). New ruling deals blow to Dutch regulator’s narrow GDPR interpretation. In: Politico Pro. Brussels: Politico.
- Manacourt V. (2020). The end of cookies In: POLITICO Pro Cyber Insights. Brussels: Politico.
- n.d. (2020). Surveillance and monitoring invade European post-pandemic workplaces. The Japan Times. Tokyo: The Japan Times.
- Perera D. (2020). Smartphone Covid-19 tracing provokes privacy concerns, questions about its utility. In: MLex. Brussel: MLex.
- Piersma J. & Pols M. (2020). Brussel wil miljoenen mensen gaan volgen via telecomdata tegen corona. In: Het Financieele Dagblad. Amsterdam: FD Mediagroep.
- Pinte J.P. (2020). Ces technologies inquiétantes qui ont envahi le monde du travail depuis la pandémie. In: Atlantico. Paris, France: Talmont Media.
- Standeford D. (2020). Compliance ‘Moving Target’. As GDPR Reaches 2nd Anniversary, Enforcement Resources an Issue. In: Washington Internet Daily and Communications Daily. Washington, DC: Warren Communications News.
- Schellevis J. (2020). Deskundigen zeer kritisch over zeven corona-apps: ‘Terug naar de tekentafel’. Hilversum: NOS Dutch public broadcast services.
- Wesseling A. (2020). Facebook op de pijnbank: ‘Gebruikers betaalden jarenlang ongevraagd met hun data’. In: De Jurist. Amsterdam: FD Mediagroep.
2019
- Arnbak A. (2019). Parlementaire democratie grote verliezer door onmacht EU om online privacy te reguleren (Parliamentary democracy loses big due to EU powerlessness to regulate online privacy). In: Het Financieele Dagblad. Amsterdam: FD Mediagroep.
- Arnbak A. (2019). Privacywet AVG zal in toekomst belofte van megaboetes en massaclaims inlossen. In: Het Financieele Dagblad. Amsterdam: FD Mediagroep.
- Bongers V. (2019). A spider’s web of clicks. The internet’s hidden side is watching you. In: Leids Universitair Weekblad Mare. Leiden: Leiden University.
- Bongers V. (2019). Een spinnenweb van clicks. Hoe de achterkant van het internet ons in de gaten houdt. In: Leids Universitair Weekblad Mare. Leiden: Leiden University.
- Driesche F. van den (2019). PhD Candidate Robbert van Eijk measures privacy component in online advertising. Leiden: Leiden University.
- Immer-zaal P. (2019). Op de achtergrond kijken honderden bedrijven mee terwijl je surft. In: Welingelichte kringen. Epse: Welingelichte kringen.
- Jong S. (2019). Meer bedrijven kijken mee terwijl u surft. In: PlusOnline. Baarn: MediaPlus bv.
- Manacourt V. (2019). A new standard for data processing contracts, New templates could give small companies power to push back against larger firms. In: Politico Pro. Brussels: Politico.
- Moeliker R. (2019). Overdwars: Adverteerders op internet kijken graag met u mee. In: Nederlands Dagblad. Amersfoort: Nederlands Dagblad.
- n.d. (2019). Juristen en datahandelaren: AP te streng met uitleg privacywet. In: Security.NL. Den Haag: The Security Council B.V.
- n.d. (2019). Bodycams and trigger-happy cowboys. In: Leids Universitair Weekblad Mare. Leiden: Leiden University.
- n.d. (2019). Op de achtergrond kijken honderden bedrijven mee terwijl je surft. In: PrivacyNieuws.nl. Utrecht: Burgerrechtenvereniging Vrijbit.
- Piersma J. & Pols M. (2019). Toezichthouder gaat te ver met uitleg privacywet. In: Het Financieele Dagblad. Amsterdam: FD Mediagroep.
- Schellevis J. (2019). Meer en meer bedrijven kijken mee terwijl jij surft. Hilversum: NOS Dutch public broadcast services.
- Vegelien S. (2019). Zo ziet de veiling achter een cookiemelding eruit. Hilversum: NOS OP3 Dutch public broadcast services.
- Wijnen J.F (2019). Android-telefoons lekken massaal persoonlijke data zonder toestemming. In: Het Financieele Dagblad. Amsterdam: FD Mediagroep.
