For over fifteen years, Elise Degrave, expert in digital law and Professor in the Faculty of Law, has been tackling one of the hidden sides of the iceberg of citizens' fundamental rights: the protection of their data, in a society profoundly impacted by the digital transition. "Today, citizens are obliged to give the state a great deal of information. This data linked to our identity, our health, our "wallet", is thus in the hands of the State, without the citizen really knowing what is being done with it. Can it be used to identify bad payers, or, for example, to report those in poor health to insurance companies? When it comes to making our data available to the state, not everything is democratically acceptable. It is this issue that is at the heart of my research", explains Elise Degrave.
By combining fieldwork, particularly within the associative milieu, academic missions, and an advisory role within the political sphere, Elise Degrave takes on the role of whistleblower with conviction, energy and determination. "I do investigative work, I go out into the field, I meet actors directly confronted with these digital inequalities arising from the provision of our data. I come back to my office, to think, and translate all this information into a scientific, rigorous analysis. And then I return to the field to take action, making recommendations to those who will be making the decisions", she explains. What guides her in each of her actions? The defense of the citizen and the perpetual reinforcement of democracy.
As a passionate teacher, she is also careful to pass on to her students, particularly those from master's specialization in information and communication technology law, this vision of law that frames innovation and digital technologies, at the service of the citizen.
The award of this title of Namuroise of the Year, underlines the crucial importance of her work in the field of digital law as well as her commitment to society.
