The Institute for Information Law (IViR) at the University of Amsterdam is the academic partner in the EU-Horizon Europe Consortium MOBIFREE, which consists of 12 partners in 5 countries. Mobifree strives for the development of a human-centered framework for the co-creation and assessment of a mobile software ecosystem built around ethical values, including operating systems, app stores, user applications, as well as cloud connectivity protocols (MOBIFREE software).

The main objective for the succesful candidate to work on is the development of a values framework for the co-creation and assessment of a human-centered mobile software ecosystem, which respects human rights, complies with EU legislation and is responsive to public values. This values framework will provide the standard MOBIFREE software must comply with, as well as a step-by-step plan developers must consider during the co-creation and testing stages of MOBIFREE software.

The succesful candidate will conduct a literature review that systematically maps all relevant conformity assessment methodologies for digital innovation and software develpoment. The value-sensitive design will be grounded in current and forthcoming legislation (such as the GDPR, the Data Act and the expected AI Act, the European Convention of Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights), and align with ethical guidelines and codes of conduct (such as the “Ethics in mobile apps project” that some consortium partners were involved in). Furthermore, we will map existing models for human-centred and ethical software that already exist, taking into account all four components of software ecosystems (operating systems, app stores, apps and cloud connectivity).

The succesful candidate will also look at the variety of available conformity assessment methodologies, focussing on compliance, as well as focussing more constructively on helping innovators reflect on the relevant topics during development of their product.

Based on this combined legal and ethical frameworks and literatures, the candidate will develop an overview of relevant evaluative concepts and their meaning when it comes to ‘values-based’ and ‘ethical’ software and a practical guide to use them in a conformity assessment of software ‘in the making’. The results of this review will be presented and discussed in subgroups, using a round table discussion methodology with all project partners.

The IViR research team is looking for a postdoctoral researcher (0,8 FTE for 12 months) who is interested in developing such a values framework.

We are looking for a candidate holding a PhD in information law, and who is familiar with the intersection of ethics, human rights, software development or internet infrastructure. We are also willing to consider strong candidates holding a master’s degree in such fields, who have a demonstrable interest in research and in working on a values framework software developers have to consider from the start of the development of applications. The ideal candidate has the capacity to work independently, has excellent oral and written communication skills in English, a creative mind and strong critical and analytical skills. Oral and written communication skills in Dutch are considered an advantage.

We offer an employment contract for 1 year (0,8 FTE). The preferred starting date is 15 February 2024. Your salary, depending on your relevant experience on commencement of the employment contract, ranges from €3226 to €5929 (scale 10-11) gross per month on the basis of a full working week of 38 hours. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8.3% year-end allowance. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) is applicable.

Amsterdam Law School

The Institute for Information Law (IViR), officially established in 1989, is one of the largest research centres in the field of information law in the world. The Institute employs over 35 researchers who are active in an entire spectrum of information society related legal areas: intellectual property law, patents, telecommunications and broadcasting regulation, media law, Internet regulation, advertising law, domain names, freedom of expression, privacy, digital consumer issues, commercial speech, AI, blockchain, et cetera. The Institute engages in cutting-edge research into fundamental and topical aspects of information law, and provides a forum for critical debate about the social, cultural and political aspects of regulating information markets.

Committed, responsible and open-minded. This is how we at the Amsterdam Law School view the role of law in a constantly changing (international) society. With over 5,000 students and 550 staff, we are one of the larger law faculties in the Netherlands. We educate legal professionals who know how to apply the law effectively with the aim of actually contributing to solutions for society. We respond to social developments through innovative and pioneering research. In this way, we always keep in touch with society.

Curious about our organization? Here you can read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.