Maria Catarina Batista received an Honourable Mention in the first edition of the ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐.๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ for her dissertation, “Synthetic Data and GDPR Compliance: Navigating the Legal and Ethical Landscape”, which WhatNext.Law is now pleased to publish.
Maria’s work, developed as part of the Master’s in Law and Technology at NOVA School of Law under the supervision of Professor Graรงa Canto Moniz, impressed the jury with its interdisciplinary approach, combining rigorous legal analysis with technical expertise acquired through direct collaboration with YData, a leading synthetic data generation start-up, and with contributions from Dr Khaled El Emam, a recognised expert in the field.
The author demonstrates an exceptional command of the European data protection legal framework, coupled with a remarkable ability to provide concrete and relevant legal recommendations.
The dissertation explores the complex relationship between synthetic data and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), analysing whether, and to what extent, synthetic data falls within the concept of personal data. The author examines re-identification risks, the boundaries between anonymised data and synthetic data, and the ethical challenges associated with the use of this technology in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and scientific research. The dissertation concludes with practical legal recommendations for organisations that process, or intend to process, synthetic data, reinforcing the need for an adaptive and ethically conscious approach in this rapidly evolving field.
WhatNext.Law congratulates the researcher on her outstanding work.
