Privacy in the Western World

Jan Smits is an emeritus Full Professor who previously held the Chair of Law and Technology in the Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences department at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His expertise spans telecommunication engineering, as well as interdisciplinary fields that intersect law and political science. In the early years of his tenure, Dr. Smits concentrated on research related to mobile telecommunications and digital television. More recently, his work has shifted towards critical issues such as privacy protection and information security, recognizing the challenges non-technical disciplines face within a technical university setting. He advocates for the integration of humanities and social sciences into engineering programs, emphasizing their importance in enriching the educational experience. Dr. Smits highlights the multifaceted relationship between technology and law, particularly in contemporary issues like self-driving cars, smartphones, cloud services, medical equipment, and cybersecurity. His insights underscore the necessity for collaboration between engineers and legal experts to navigate the complexities of modern technological advancements.