Since 2015, I am a Tenured Researcher at Centre National de Recherches Scientifiques (CNRS), France, and a Faculty Associate at Harvard’s Berkman-Klein Center. Since 2017, I am also a Visiting Fellow at the European University Institute, Robert Schuman Center for Advanced Studies, and at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
TECHNOLOGY & LAW
For 10 years, most of my research has been investigating the interplay between technology and the law, and how they influence each other.
BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY
Since 5 years, I have been exploring the legal challenges raised and faced by blockchain technology, and its use as a regulatory technology.
DISTRIBUTED GOVERNANCE
My interest in open source has led me to explore new models of distributed governance for online communities.
PROJECTS
Over the past few yours, I have been involved—either as an individual or as part of a research team—in a variety of projects, both at the national and European level, working at the intersection of law and technology. Below is a list of the main projects that I have been working on:
Blockchain gov
BlockchainGov will engage in participant observation, fieldwork and cultural immersion (through direct participation in online forums, chats, social media, and physical gatherings) to investigate the formal and informal governance structures of existing blockchain communities, listening to the voices of these communities from within in order to unveil the tacit governance practices and the invisible powers operating behind the scenes.
NETWORK NATIONS
Blockchains are technologies for storing and transmitting data, allowing the constitution of replicated and distributed ledgers, without a central monitoring body, secured by cryptography, and structured by blocks linked to each other, at regular intervals of time. Smart contracts are auto enforceable code, running on top of a blockchain.
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Blockchains are technologies for storing and transmitting data, allowing the constitution of replicated and distributed ledgers, without a central monitoring body, secured by cryptography, and structured by blocks linked to each other, at regular intervals of time. Smart contracts are auto enforceable code, running on top of a blockchain. The project aims at providing policymakers, legislators, but also legal practitioners with a legislative guide, a toolbox, on how to approach questions in the emerging legal field of blockchain and smart contracts.
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PORTFOLIO
a blockchain-based life form
2015
Plantoid is a bionic blockchain-based installation. Plantoid, the plant equivalent of an android, is an autopoietic sculpture —a self-owned artist that owns and finances itself, and eventually reproduces itself. It is, in essence, a hybrid entity that exists both in the physical and virtual world, where it can interact with other entities on the blockchain. It was first displayed at STWST during the Ars Electronica festival of 2015.
2013
A large metallic Hamster-ball designed to interact with several humanoids. As the Ball rolls on the ground, activated by human-power, it will provide a platform to perform theater, music and interactive pranks. The idea is to engage the public not only with machine itself but to use the ball as a way to facilitate interaction with the spectators until they cease to be spectators and become a part of the show.
2013
A mechanic algorithm that generate an abstract painting by means of a pedal-activated peristaltic pump and the danse of a mechanical creature. This algorithm enables users to interact with the scultpure in order to create unique artworks.
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