Ricardo Andres Vasquez Dazarola

I am a lawyer who holds an LL.B. in Legal Sciences from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Chile and an Advanced LL.M. in Law and Digital Technologies (cum laude) from Universiteit Leiden in the Netherlands. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD at the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen, as a fellow at CECS (Center for European, Comparative, and Constitutional Legal Studies).

My doctoral research explores the emerging regulatory frameworks in EU law designed to address the artificial amplification of disinformation on social media, particularly during electoral periods. Alongside my research, I teach the course "Human Rights, Democracy, and Digital Technology," reflecting my commitment to exploring the intersection of law, technology, and democratic principles. 

PhD Title: Automated Weapons of Mass Persuasion: EU Legal Responses to the Artificial Amplification of Disinformation on Social Media During Elections.

Project Period: September 2022 – August 2025.

Supervisor: Professor Dr Helle Krunke.

Co-Supervisor: Professor Dr Iryna Marchuk.

Centre for European, Comparative, and Constitutional Legal Studies (CECS).

The PhD project positions itself at the intersection of two specific but interconnected themes in the disinformation ecosystem. On the one hand, it focuses on the changes brought by new technologies, empowered mainly by AI, like deep fakes, that artificially amplify disinformation effects on social media during elections and its negative impact on societal values, democracy, and citizens' fundamental rights (the problem). On the other hand, this work studies EU novel legal responses to this phenomenon, such as the DSA and the AI Act, in order to understand how these diverse rules work and interact with each other, which will be the core subject of this thesis (the response).

Education 

- Advanced LL.M. - Law and Digital Technologies 

Universiteit Leiden, the Netherlands (2019–2020).

- Bar Admission Certificate - Chilean Supreme Court of Justice (2012).

- LL.B. - Bachelor in Legal Sciences.

Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Chile (2006–2011).

Professional Experience.

- Universidad de los Andes - Professor (2022).

As a Professor, I taught the course "Online Content Regulation" as part of the diploma program "Law and Regulation of New Technologies". The course focused on analysing the impact of disinformation on fundamental rights and examining diverse regulatory responses in comparative law, with a particular emphasis on the European Union's approach.

- Senate of the Republic of Chile - External Policy Advisor (2021-2022). 

As an external advisor, my primary role was researching online platforms and artificial intelligence regulation. This included analysing the current regulatory map on these subjects (globally) and developing mechanisms, including legal proposals, for Chile's safe development of digital technologies.

- Fundacion P!ensa - Collaborator (2020-2022).

As a collaborator, I focused on writing articles published in diverse news media in Chile regarding the status of disinformation, potential legislation addressing this issue, and the different stakeholders' roles in the ecosystem.

- Arias, Gompertz Abogados - Senior Associate (2012–2019).

As an associate, my practice focused on providing legal support for national and international companies from diverse sectors such as retail, technology, and telecommunications.  

- Guest Lecturer in the Regulating Internet Giants - Google, Amazon and Facebook Master Level course - 2022 (Professor Veronika Fikfak).

- Guest Lecturer in the Artificial Intelligence and Legal Disruption Master Level course - 2024 (Professor Olga Kokoulina).

- Teacher in the Human Rights, Democracy and Digital Technology Master Level course - 2023 & 2024.

- Spanish (native).

- English (fluent).

- Portuguese (basic)