In academic and societal debate, citizen self-organization is seen as a positive development. However, online self-organization against crime raises important normative questions. I will examine how social media logic changes citizen self-organization, how law enforcement evaluates this phenomenon and how we can harness the potential of online self-organization for policework. More information: To the rescue or going rogue | Universiteit Utrecht | Over dit onderzoek

Together with prof. dr. Judith van Erp and mr. dr. Arnt Mein, I supervise the PhD research of Archer Buissink in the PlatWork-R project. Archer researches strategies for the regulation of digital labour platforms and platform work in the Netherlands and the European Union.

• Archer Buissink
• prof. dr. Judith van Erp

• mr. dr. Arnt Mein

Together with prof. dr. Albert Meijer, dr. Andrea Donker and dr. ir. Anke van Gorp, I co-supervise the PhD research of Wybren van Rij. Wybren is studying (big) data uses in the fight against subversive crime. 

• prof. dr. Albert Meijer

• dr. Andrea Donker
• dr. ir. Anke van Gorp

The Dutch police have repeatedly expressed the intention to further enhance cooperation with private and societal partners. At the same time, these private and societal actors have shown increasing abilities to take on police duties, due to new technologies, among other things. Through analysis of four collaborations from Dutch police practice and a systematic literature review, we formulate guiding principles for further development of public-private partnership (PPPs) to support the police function, while respecting the principles of the rule of law.

• dr. Marie-Louise Glebbeek
• dr. Kim Loyens
• prof. mr. J.M.W. (Joep) Lindeman

• Dr. Yinthe Feys

Migration management is increasingly digitized and datafied. In the Netherlands, digital opportunities have been embraced for identity and security screening of applicants. Screening of smartphones and other digital devices has become common practices in the Netherlands – similar to other European countries. This project empirically reconstruct the implications of screening for different actors involved. Through participatory design, we aim develop a prototype which is fair, accountable and transparent to both asylum seekers and institutions involved.

• prof. dr. A.A. (Albert) Salah
• dr. Koen Leurs

• Kinan Alajak
• Djamila Schans

We conducted a case study into parliamentary oversight over three timely cases of digitalization: 5G, the gig economy and automated number plate recognition (ANPR). We concluded that parliamentary structures and procedures too compartmentalized for digitalization which impacts multiple domains of society. Based on our research, the TCDT advised to install a permanent parliamentary committee on digitalization.

• dr. Erna Ruijer
• prof. dr. Albert Meijer

The Utrecht Refugee Launchpad aimed to develop an inclusive approach to facilitate the integration of asylum-seekers from day one. The city of Utrecht collaborated with a range of local partners to open a new asylum reception center in Utrecht Overvecht ('Plan Einstein'), based on a shared living concept which brings local young people and asylum seekers to live together. A theory-based evaluation of the project was conducted, where we worked alongside the Plan Einstein partnership as the project unfolded. The evaluation sought to assess the project’s effectiveness, benefits and early outcomes. Equally important was to generate insight into what worked and what worked less well for national government and localities across Europe to consider when rethinking asylum seeker reception. The evaluation used a mixed methods approach, interrogating a range of quantitative and qualitative data. 

• dr. Karin Geuijen

• dr. Caroline Oliver
• dr. Sarah Spencer

At the height of the European ‘refugee crisis’ we conducted in depth interviews with 54 Syrian refugees about their use of social media during their journeys to The Netherlands. This research revealed strategies of dealing with information precarity. Information from personal network ties was considered most trustworthy.

• Jeanine Klaver
• Hanna Vonk
• Prof. dr. Godfried Engbersen

We studied agenda-setting and framing effects of media coverage of immigration and integration issues on the policy agenda. The research focused on 16  cases relating to individual immigrants, immigrant groups and policy changes. We distinguish specific ways in which journalistic and social media influence the policy agenda. 

• Prof. dr. Peter Scholten

As a PhD student within this research project, I contributed to the development of a social media analysis tool for local policymakers. This tool was specifically designed to monitor social media debate on migrant integration. I collaborated with researchers and policymakers from Berlin and Malmö to analyze social media debates and integration policies. 

• Prof. dr. Victor Bekkers
• Prof. dr. Peter Scholten
• Dr. Rebecca Moody

This internationally comparative research project focused on identifying drivers and barriers of migration from Morocco, Ukraine and Brazil towards four European destination countries (Norway, The UK, Portugal and The Netherlands). As a junior researcher in this project, my tasks involved collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data within these four European countries and three origin countries of migration. My publications focused on the role of social media in migration decision-making.

• Prof. dr. Godfried Engbersen
• Dr. Erik Snel
• Prof. dr. Masja van Meeteren
• Sanne van de Pol