We are excited to announce that Prof. Anastasija Collen from HES-SO – HEG, will be delivering a seminar on Privacy Risks on Wheels: Who Controls Data in the Age of Digital Mobility.
Abstract: As our cities become smarter and vehicles more autonomous, the boundary between personal space and public data is dissolving. Connected and automated vehicles constantly collect, process, and exchange information about drivers, passengers, and their surroundings, turning every trip into a continuous flow of personal data. This talk examines the privacy risks emerging from these hyper-connected mobility systems and asks a central question: who truly controls the data? From vehicle-to-everything communication and cloud integration to video feeds and behavioural analytics, we will explore how information circulates across this ecosystem and what challenges it creates for individuals and society. Based on recent research in privacy risk assessment and feedback from European pilot projects, the session will discuss how existing cybersecurity frameworks address (or overlook) these issues. Beyond compliance, it calls for rethinking digital mobility in ways that uphold human autonomy, transparency, and trust.
Short bio: Anastasija Collen is an Associate Professor of Cybersecurity at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO – HEG), Geneva. She holds a PhD in Information Systems from the University of Geneva. Her academic background includes a BSc in Computer Science with a specialisation in Internet Technologies from Ireland, and an MSc in Security and Cryptology from University Grenoble Alpes, France. She began her career as a software engineer at Brandt Technology and as a research assistant with the Privatics team at INRIA Grenoble. After moving to Switzerland, she worked as an R&D security engineer at IRIS SA and as a software engineer at Swissquote Bank. She later joined the University of Geneva as a scientific collaborator, progressing to senior researcher, lecturer, and co-head of the I-Sec Laboratory. Her research focuses on applied cybersecurity, privacy protection, and automated risk assessment in connected and intelligent systems, particularly within the Internet of Things and automated mobility domains. She plays a leading role in several European research projects as a scientific co-lead, proposal coordinator, and task leader, collaborating with industrial and academic partners. She actively promotes diversity and mentorship through Women in Cyber and was recognised by the IEEE Computer Society among Computing’s Top 30 Early Career Professionals for 2024.
