Meet the Advisory Council
Professor Crystal Abidin (PhD) is an anthropologist and ethnographer of internet cultures.
A Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University, she is the Founding Director of the Influencer Ethnography Research Lab and Founder of the TikTok Cultures Research Network.
An award-winning scholar, she was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 (2018) and WA Young Tall Poppy (2022). She is the author of numerous books on digital culture, including "Internet Celebrity" and "Instagram." Her research focuses on influencers, social media, and youth cultures in the Asia Pacific region.
David is an Executive Director at RDC Group, advising organisations on strategy and transformative change.
He was formerly New Zealand’s Chief Censor, responsible for balancing freedom of speech with protecting the public from harmful content. David is an expert on the impact of technological and social change, having led a regulatory authority and a tech company.
He is known for his evidence-led approach, has championed groundbreaking research, and is a sought-after international speaker, including for TEDx.
Chisato KITANAKA has been listed as an associate professor of harassment consultation office at Hiroshima University, since April 2007.
Her research fields include social sciences and sociology, specifically issues involving gender; sexual harassment; domestic violence; science and technology; gender-based violence; academic harassment.
She is also an NGO activist, serving as the director of 'All Japan Women’s Shelter Network' and 'Rape Crisis Center in Hiroshima'.
Tammy Jih Hsuan LIN is a distinguished professor in the College of Communication at the NCCU. Her research focuses on virtual reality, metaverse, digital games, and social media. She is interested in applying and employing communication technology to increase human psychological well-being and physical exercise. She also focuses on utilizing these technologies for marketing and persuasion.
She is the director of the International Master’s Program in International Communication Studies and the chair of Human Subject Review Board at NCCU. She also serves as the Associate Editor of Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (JCMC) and President of the Taiwan Academy for Information Association.
Film commentator TikTok creator who has over 690,000 followers. He started his career in the film industry as an assistant director of the historical drama Mito Komon at Toei Kyoto Studios.
He has worked as a TikTok creator since 2019 and communicates entertainment and social issues to young people in an easy-to-understand manner. In 2022, he established MEW Creators Co., Ltd. and served as the representative director.
Nobonita Chowdhury is a prominent Gender Expert and Equality Activist with over 20 years of experience in journalism and communications.
A former Editor of DBC News, she worked for the BBC and Ekattor Television, becoming a household name hosting the primetime talk show “Rajkahon.”
She holds an MA in Human Rights Law from SOAS, University of London, and received the prestigious ‘Anannya Top Ten Award’ in 2017. She has also spoken at UNESCO's World Press Freedom Conference.
Linh Phuong Nguyen, Executive Director of the Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD), is a leading Vietnamese civil society figure.
She created the ODIC methodology (Organisation Development Methodology of Inspiring Culture), building capacity for hundreds of local CSOs and businesses. Her work focuses on good governance, SDG achievement, and child rights, coaching over 100 organisations.
A published author on sustainability and digital citizenship, she is also a frequent national and international speaker on these critical issues.
Dr. Varoth Chotpitayasunondh is Co-founder, Thailand Institute for Mental health Sustainability, the world's first institution dedicated to studying the sustainability of people's mental well-being and Spokesperson for the Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health. He is a well-known expert on mental health issues in Thailand, particularly in the areas of social issues' impact on mental health, and adolescent psychology.
Throughout the last 12 years, he has cooperated on projects with numerous world-renowned organizations, including WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, Save the Children, TikTok, and Twitter. Aside from being a DMH spokesperson.
Arthit Suriyawongkul is a recognized subject matter expert and key opinion leader in the field of digital and technology in Thailand. He is currently pursuing his PhD in AI ethics and data governance and has previously worked as a product owner and engineering research manager at a social media analytics company in Bangkok.
He is also the co-founder of Thai Netizen Network, a non-governmental organization that promotes civil rights in the digital environment.
Anita Wahid is an activist on issues of human rights and democracy, mainly on three focuses: anti-corruption, religious tolerance, and digital information ecosystem. She’s been involved in MAFINDO (Masyarakat Antifitnah Indonesia), Gerakan Nasional Literasi Digital Siberkreasi, Public Virtue Research Institute for digital democracy, and serves as member of Safety Advisory Council of TikTok Asia Pacific.
She's also a member of Perempuan Indonesia Antikorupsi (PIA) and Jaringan Gusdurian. She’s currently a PhD student at the Australian National University, with her research focusing on the use of disinformation and computational propaganda as weapon of political contestation in Indonesian presidential election of 2024.
Fabrício Benevenuto is associate professor in the Computer Science Department of Federal University at Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a former member of the Brazilian Academy of Science (2013-2017). He received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UFMG, in 2010, and his thesis received the CAPES award as the best Brazilian thesis in computer science in 2010.
In 2017 he received a Humboldt fellowship through which he was a visiting faculty at Max Planck Institute in Germany. Currently, he leads a series of projects towards understanding, measuring, and countering misinformation campaigns in digital platforms. His work on these topics has led to a large number of relevant publications, widely cited and awarded papers, and systems with real world impact.
Psychologist and psychoanalyst, master and doctoral student in Social Psychology (PUC-SP).
Professor at Instituto SEDES Sapientiae (Specialization course “Mental Health and Psychiatric Reform: Clinic and Policy in Transforming Practices”). Member of the AMMA Psyche and Negritude Institute.
Member of the Center for Institutional and Collective Logic Studies and Research (NUPLIC – PUC SP). Member of the Racism and Health Working Group of the Brazilian Association of Collective Health (ABRASCO).
Honorary member of the Psychoanalysis Training Department of the SEDES Sapientiae Institute. He works in a private practice of psychology and psychoanalysis and in academic research.
Clarissa is the Coordinator of Publications at FGV Direito SP and an undergraduate professor. She also leads the Platform for Freedom of Expression and Democracy, a key initiative safeguarding democratic principles.
Her academic credentials are extensive, featuring a PhD in Philosophy and General Theory of Law from the University of São Paulo, complemented by fellowships at Yale University and the Australian National University.
As a recognised expert in Law Theory and Political Philosophy, her scholarly work directly informs her role as a member of the Center for Analysis of Liberty and Authoritarianism (LAUT), where she contributes vital research to counter authoritarianism and promote the rule of law.
Nina da Hora is a technology writer based in Brazil for MIT Technology Review and the website GizmodoBR. She is an affiliated researcher with the Obvia project at the University of Montreal, TedEx Speaker on computational thinking, AI, and IOS Developer.
Nina holds a computer science undergraduate degree from the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, focusing on AI fairness. Nina worked with robotics in Cyber labs AI that hosts the technology key app. Podcaster at Ogunhe, a project created to share scientists' stories and achievements from the African continent. Additionally, Nina is developing an app meant to teach computer science to girls.
An anthropologist (PhD, USP) and professor, her research focuses on the extreme right, Bolsonarism, and anti-gender politics, analyzing conservatism, digital activism, and disinformation.
She won the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Award (2020) for work on anti-rights cases in Latin America. She coordinates the Digital Ethnography Laboratory (LED) and co-coordinates the Extreme Right Observatory (OED Brasil), monitoring radical right movements globally.
Her work also investigates the science and politics of COVID-19, including denialism and conspiracy theories.
Dr. Jadi, a dedicated pediatrician with a special focus on adolescent medicine (hebiatrist), adds a critical medical dimension to our advisory council. Her unique perspective on how mobile devices, the internet, and social media impact the mental and physical health of adolescents is invaluable for informing the council's decision-making processes.
Her communication skills are also demonstrated through her dedicated Instagram channel, where she navigates complex medical themes and presents them in an accessible way. This clinical expertise and ability to communicate health-related topics in the context of technology make Dr. Jadi capable of providing crucial insights that bridge the gap between neuroscience, clinical practice, and technology use.
Graduated in Psychology from the University of Fortaleza (2000). She is currently a graduate student at Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. She holds a specialization in Education from the American institution Framingham State College. She has experience in the field of Psychology, with an emphasis on Psychoanalysis of Women.
She has a background in education, with an emphasis on training English as a second language. She is the coordinator of DimiCuida Institute, an NGO that aims to educate parents, educators and youth on online challenges, especially choking games. Fabiana has already contributed with TikTok many times, being an expert consulted for the Dangerous Challenges Research and workshops with partners and creators.
PhD and Master in Private Law, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ). Director of the Institute of Technology & Society of Rio de Janeiro (ITS Rio). Professor of Law, UERJ and Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio). Visiting Professor, University of Ottawa Law School. Affiliated Fellow, Information Society Project, Yale Law School. Member of the Executive Committee, Global Network of Internet & Society Research Centers (NoC).
Prof. Souza has been involved in several regulatory initiatives in the past decades, such as the creation of the Brazilian Internet Bill of Rights ("Marco Civil da Internet") and the General Data Protection Law ("LGPD"). He writes a weekly column on Law and Technology at UOL.
Kananda Eller has made a name for herself as a compelling advocate for making science more accessible to everyone, especially those in the Black community. Holding a degree in Chemistry and currently pursuing her Master's in Environmental Science Education at USP, she has deftly combined her academic expertise with her deep-seated passion for inclusivity in science.
Notably, Kananda has effectively leveraged social media platforms to bridge the gap between complex scientific knowledge and everyday understanding. Under her alter ego, "Deusa Cientista" on TikTok, she has challenged stereotypes, fortified the identity of Black individuals in the field of science, and brought forth invaluable insights on academic life. Her remarkable work has been recognised with a nomination for the 2021 TikTok Awards in the #learnontiktok category.
Judy Korn is the Founder and CEO of Violence Prevention Network, a network of more than 100 experts in the field of deradicalization and rehabilitation of violent extremists.
The Violence Prevention Network is based in Germany and was one of the first organizations in Europe that focused its initiatives on beginning in 2001.
An internet safety expert and educator, Andrea has extensive public administration experience, contributing to Slovakia’s EU accession with a focus on democracy and human rights.
She has trained officials in public policy and strategic communication across the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions.
Since 2017, she has led the civic association digiQ, specialising in digital citizenship, online safety, and preventing hate speech.
As of March 2023, she is a member of Slovakia’s Council for Media Services, overseeing legal compliance in broadcasting and audiovisual media.
Joan Barata is a Fellow at the Cyber Policy Center of Stanford University. He works on freedom of expression, access to information, media regulation and intermediary liability issues. His work has taken him to most regions of the world, and he is regularly involved in projects with international organizations such as UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the Organization of American States or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, where he was the principal advisor to the Representative on Media Freedom.
Joan Barata also has experience as a regulator, as he held the position of Secretary General of the Audiovisual Council of Catalonia in Spain and was member of the Permanent Secretariat of the Mediterranean Network of Regulatory Authorities.
Max is a Ukrainian entrepreneur and creator based in London. After a career in corporate consultancy and advertising, Max started his own social media channels - creating better videos for his sister to watch. As the channels grew, so did KLYM&CO. A media company that helps brands and organisations tell meaningful stories online.
Previous projects include responses to the COVID-19 crisis, the Russo-Ukraine war, and campaigning for refugee support and climate change. Max's TikTok Account
Angélica Contreras is a consultant specializing in fields such as technology, gender perspective, digital rights and societal issues.
Her work largely focuses on issues including sexual harassment, online bullying and harassment, specifically among young people. Angie studied communications at the Universidad de Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Carlos Cortés is a lawyer, policy journalist, co-founder of the Linterna Verde organisation and TV host. Carlos regularly collaborates with international organizations on issues such as freedom of expression and internet policies.
Former researcher at the Centre for Studies on Freedom of Expression at the University of Palermo, Argentina, and former director of public policy at Twitter for Spanish-speaking LATAM. Carlos has a master's degree in Media and Communication Governance from the London School of Economics.
Eugenia Mitchelstein is the Director of the Department of Social Sciences at the University of San Andrés, and co-founder of the Center for Media and Society Studies in Argentina (MESO).
She is a leading expert in political communication and topics that cover the debunking of misinformation. Eugenia holds a PhD in Media, Technology and Society from Northwestern University.
Founder and President of SINTRATA, a non-for-profit organization working since 2012 to combat human trafficking in Mexico and LATAM.
Through research, policy and partnerships with public and private sectors –in key industries such as tourism, travel and technology–, SINTRATA aims to create mechanisms for access to justice for victims of sexual and labour exploitation, as well as the prevention of this crime. Her recent work includes developing methodology to identify victims in the domestic markets of exploitation (in the context of cities), based on data analysis of the logistics and journey of trafficking in persons.
Mariana is also a researcher in the field of sociology and gender studies with a focus on labor and violence. Mariana holds a master's degree in sociology and gender studies from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris.
Andrea Urbas is an Executive Committee member of Chicos.net, an NGO that seeks to promote the rights and protection of young people online. Andrea is a recognized voice within the Argentinian landscape for these topics and also collaborates with RedNATIC, a network of organizations that protect and defend childrens' rights online.
Andrea studied psychology at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Juan Cristóbal Concha is a Chilean clinical psychologist, LGBTQ+ advocate, and content creator (@juancristobalconcha). He is the Founder and Executive Director of PrideMe, a mental health organization that provides psychotherapy and educational content specifically designed to support the emotional well-being, self-acceptance, and authenticity of LGBTQ+ individuals across Latin America.
Juan Cristóbal is also a TEDx speaker, having delivered the talk “The Pride of Being Gay” in 2022, and has been a corporate speaker since 2020 for companies affiliated with Pride Connection Chile, a national network promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace. Through his clinical expertise and digital influence, he works to build safer, more inclusive, and mentally healthy spaces for LGBTQ+ communities.
Sara Almohamadi is a researcher and academic from Saudi Arabia. Sara’s scholarly interests fall at the intersection between law and sociology; her main area of focus is law and society in Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf region.
Sara is an Associate Fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, her latest project at the Center is an edited volume on Legal Reform in Saudi Arabia. She is also a lecturer in law at a university in Saudi Arabia where she enjoys teaching criminal law and legal research. Sara is a member of the Munich Young Leaders program since 2016.
She holds an LL.M from Columbia University, an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and an LL.B from SOAS, University of London.
Myriam Bahri, MBA, is a trained psychotherapist and a strategy consultant. She joined Morocco's NGO specialised in suicide prevention among youngsters, Sourire de Reda, in 2019 as a general manager. She has been running a suicide helpline for nearly 3 years and contributed to completely digitizing its operations.
Myriam also focuses on developing partnerships to drive institutions and media attention towards youngsters' mental health and well-being.
Naila Hamdy is an Egyptian academic and scholar who has previously worked in the field of journalism. She is the associate dean for graduate studies and research at the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. With research interests in the area of journalism and media professions, international communication and traditional and social media production and consumption, Hamdy has both taught, published and consulted in related contexts. Hamdy’s latest project is an edited volume on the contemporary Arab communication landscape offering a clear basic knowledge of the Arab countries under investigation, focusing on their media systems.
Ohaila Shomar is the Palestine General Director of the Sawa Organization. She is a human rights activist, an expired trainer in GBV, and has developed anti-violence programs and published manuals on eliminating violence against women and children. She established 5 helplines for women survivors of violence and child protection helpline in Palestinian and the MENA region; founder of the first alternative school “Massar” in Palestine.
She also consults with national and international organizations working on women’s and children’s issues and against violence and has published a number of research works.
Akin Unver is an associate professor of international relations at Ozyegin University in Istanbul and a fellow of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 'Digital Democracy Network'. Previously, he was a research fellow at Oxford University's Centre for Technology and Global Affairs, Oxford Internet Institute, the Alan Turing Institute in London, and taught graduate courses on political conflict at Princeton, Michigan, and Oxford.
His research interests sit at the intersection of emerging technologies, diplomacy, and international security, with a particular focus on how social media affects sub-national conflict and civil war dynamics.
Maitha Mohamed (aka MythJourney) is an Emirati Storyteller and content creator. She has worked with more than 30 official entities in the UAE to shed light on social issues and social services. Her work focuses on research-based content and stories about social change.
Hayder Hamzoz is a prominent figure in the fight for digital rights in Iraq. He is the founder and Executive Director of INSM for Digital Rights in Iraq, a nonprofit organization working to promote and defend online freedoms for Iraqis.
Hamzoz has over 2 decades of experience advocating for digital rights. He lobbies for legislation that protects free speech online and raises awareness about the dangers of online surveillance and censorship.
His efforts extend to training others on how to stay safe in the digital space. Hamzoz has provided digital security training to human rights defenders, journalists, and activists.
Dr. Latifa Al-Abdulkarim is a leading AI policy and governance expert, serving on the UN’s High-Level AI Advisory Body.
A key contributor to the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI—the first global normative framework on AI ethics—she has developed national strategies and worked with the G20 and OECD.
Recognised by Forbes and as one of the "100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics," her work focuses on embedding human rights, transparency, and accountability into AI systems through multilateral collaboration. She holds a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Law.
Lillian Kariuki is the Founder and Executive Director of Watoto Watch Network, which is an organization focused on Protecting Children Online. Lillian has run the organization for 11 years, implementing programs tackling Cybercrimes against children.
Through advocacy, policy development and educational programs, she has consistently demonstrated a keen understanding of the complex issues surrounding online safety for children.She was instrumental in developing the Kenya National Plan of Action in tackling Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
She is actively involved in advocacy efforts aimed at influencing policies and practices to enhance child online safety both at a Kenya local level and AU level.
Dr. Akinola Olojo is an expert on preventing and countering violent extremism. He was a senior researcher and project manager of the Lake Chad Basin team at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa and Senegal.
Before this, he was a visiting scholar at the Institut d’Études Politiques (SciencesPo) in France. He was also a visiting research fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism in The Hague. He regularly contributes to analyses on media platforms including the BBC, Voice of America, TVC News Nigeria and CGTN America, among others.
He has a PhD from the Université Paris Descartes and is an alumnus of King’s College London and the African Leadership Centre.
Guy Berger, professor emeritus at Rhodes University, has wide expertise in digital and media policy.
He has worked extensively in the areas of: press freedom (on- and offline); the UN Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (including training of judges and security forces); media development and policy; gender and media; media and information literacy; internet and artificial intelligence; freedom of information; journalism education; hate speech and disinformation; internet governance; and media viability, pluralism and diversity.
Dennis is a creative content creator with a significant online presence on multiple platforms. He leverages his platforms to tell African football stories. With over 5 million monthly consumers of his content, he has become a leading voice in championing the continent's rich football culture.
As a passionate figure in sharing accurate and correct information, he basis his foundation on creative story telling backed by extensive research.
Aisha Dabo is the co-founder and coordinator of AfricTivistes, a network of over 400 members from 40 African countries and Haiti, implementing projects centred on civic tech, open data, participatory democracy and digital rights, reinforcing her commitment to digital rights and digital security.
Aisha is dedicated to maintaining democratic integrity through her work by promoting participatory democracy, transparency, fundamental freedoms, transparency, and accountability, youth and women empowerment, digitalisation.
Medhane Tadesse is a policy academic on peace and security issues in Africa who has researched extensively on violence, governance, and the state. An international expert on Security Sector Reform/SSR/ he played a crucial role in familiarising the governance of security at both research and policy levels and served as Senior ASSN SSR advisor to the African Union/AU/.
A veteran political analyst on the Horn of Africa. Medhane is currently a senior research fellow on geopolitics based at IMAF/IRD Paris, a visiting professor at African Leadership Center, Global Studies, King’s College London and teaches at Sciences, Paris.
Peter Cunliffe-Jones is a misinformation researcher and consultant focused on countering harm caused by false information, while protecting free expression. As a journalist for the AFP news agency, Cunliffe-Jones reported on wars in Bosnia and Croatia and the end of military rule in Nigeria.
Interested in media standards, Cunliffe-Jones edited the AFP stylebook in 2007 and in 2012 founded Africa Check, the continent's first fact-checking organisation. In 2015, he was a founding member of the International Fact-Checking Network advisory board and co-developed its Code of Principles.
He is strategic adviser to the Arab Fact-Checkers Network. He is a University of Westminster Visiting Research Fellow.
Dorothy is the William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an internationally recognized expert in bullying, youth aggression, and teen dating violence. She has authored over 300 peer-reviewed articles, eight edited books, and 100 chapters on topics including bullying, homophobic teasing, sexual harassment, dating violence, and suicide prevention.
Her research focuses on translating empirical findings into prevention and intervention programs, securing over $30 million in external funding.
Vicky is a highly experienced leader in public and mental health with over 25 years of experience.
As Program Director at Stanford’s Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing, she spearheads groundbreaking early intervention initiatives to increase access to care for young people. Her seminal work includes developing allcove, the first integrated mental health model for 12-25 year-olds in the U.S., and the #GoodforMEdia peer mentoring program.
A recognized expert, she is the lead editor of Social Media and Youth Mental Health and holds influential advisory roles on TikTok’s U.S. Content Advisory Council and other key organisations, shaping policy and practice at the intersection of technology, media, and youth wellbeing.
Dawn is the Pedas Family Endowed Professor of IP and Technology Law at The George Washington University Law School. An internationally recognised expert, she co-directs initiatives on ethical tech and internet freedom.
She is the acclaimed author of "Virtual Freedom: Net Neutrality and Free Speech in the Internet Age" and a leading scholar on social media regulation, free speech, and online privacy. Her global impact is demonstrated through lectures at institutions worldwide, including Oxford, Harvard, Stanford, and for international bodies like the OSCE.
Internet Policy Counsel and Director of Appellate Litigation at Tech Freedom. He writes on tech legal, regulatory, and social issues for a wide range of outlets, including City Journal, The Bulwark, Reason, Lawfare, Techdirt, and The Daily Beast.
He also hosts the Tech Policy Podcast, where he interviews some of the tech world's best journalists, lawyers, and academics. Corbin previously served as Senior Litigation Counsel at Washington Legal Foundation, a public-interest law firm, where his practice focused on appeals involving administrative law, antitrust, and tech policy.
Before that, he was a partner at Browne George Ross LLP (now Ellis George LLP), where he engaged in complex litigation. Corbin has served as a law clerk to two federal U.S. district court judges. He received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.
David is a fellow for free expression and technology at the Cato Institute. His research focuses on the importance of both policies and a culture that promotes free expression in the technology space.
Inserra’s work covers topics including online content policies and moderation, government jawboning, and the harmful impacts of censorship on individuals, companies, technology, and society. David comes to Cato following 4 years on Meta’s content policy teams where he was responsible for crafting and enforcing Meta’s Community Standards, focusing on hate speech, violent speech, restricted goods and services, and support to Meta’s Oversight Board.
Inserra has an MPP from George Mason University and a BA from the College of William and Mary.
See full list of Safety and Content Advisory Council Members