EDUCATION_________________________________________________________________
2025 PhD, Communication
Annenberg School of Communication
University of Southern California
Degree expected: May 2025
- Committee: Manuel Castells (Co-Chair), Hernan Galperin (Co-Chair), Nicholas J. Cull, Jonathan Aronson, Paola Ricaurte (Tecnológico de Monterrey / Berkman Klein Center)
2024 MA, Communication
Annenberg School of Communication
University of Southern California
2016 MSc, Social Science of the Internet
Oxford Internet Institute
University of Oxford
- Distinctions in Online Metrics and Measurements and Technology & Regulation
2015 MPP, Public Policy
Blavatnik School of Government
University of Oxford
- Distinction in Foundations of Government
- Chevening Scholar
2009 Law Degree
Faculty of Law
Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (UTDT)
- First of Class
- Focus on Constitutional Law & Philosophy of Law
PUBLICATIONS_______________________________________________________________
JOURNAL ARTICLES
BOOKS
- Bustos Frati, A., Caeiro, C., Ferracutti, D., Martínez, M.F., Kirschbaum, I., & Ortiz Freuler, J., (2024). Evaluating Internet Development in Argentina: Using UNESCO's ROAM-X Internet Universality Indicators [Spanish]. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000391409
EDITED VOLUMES
ESSAYS IN EDITED VOLUMES
- Ortiz Freuler, J., The smart city as a shift in the locus of knowledge and power, in Brandusescu, A., & Reia, J. (Eds.). (2022). Artificial intelligence in the city: Building civic engagement and public trust. (pp. 88-90) Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Montréal, McGill University. https://www.mcgill.ca/centre-montreal/projects/completed-projects/ai-city
WHITE PAPERS AND REPORTS
TEACHING EXPERIENCE________________________________________________________________
STANDALONE TEACHING ASSISTANT
UNIVERSIDAD TORCUATO DI TELLA (UTDT)
Constitutional Law (2011) - Teaching Assistant
Designed and taught 2-hour standalone sessions where 45 students examined leading cases through the lens of different theoretical frameworks. Responsible for grading essays.
UNIVERSIDAD DE FLORES (UFLO)
Philosophy of Law (2010) - Teaching Assistant
Designed and taught 2-hour sessions where 45 students experimented with theoretical frameworks by analyzing their implications in specific contexts. Responsible for grading essays.
UNIVERSIDAD TORCUATO DI TELLA (UTDT)
Philosophy of Law (2009-2010) -Teaching Assistant
Designed and taught 2-hour weekly standalone sessions where 45 students experimented with theoretical frameworks by analyzing their implications in specific contexts. Responsible for grading exercises and essays.
INVITED INSTRUCTOR
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Berkman Klein Summer School - Invited Instructor (2019)
Co-Designed and taught a 3-hour hands-on course on public interest negotiation and advocacy for 15 students from around the world.
GUEST LECTURES
2024
- AI & algorithms in government. Invited by Senior Adjunct Prof. Rangita de Silva. AI & Bias Lab at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Philadelphia, PA, remote participation, January 23.
2023
- AI & algorithms in government. Invited by Senior Adjunct Prof. Rangita de Silva. AI & Bias Lab at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Philadelphia, PA, remote participation, January 22.
2022
- AI & algorithms in government: Case studies from Latin America. Invited by Senior Adjunct Prof. Rangita de Silva. AI & Bias Lab at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Philadelphia, PA, remote participation, March 28
2021
2020
- Un futuro para internet. Invited by Adjunct Professor, Tomás Pomar. ODIA-Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina, remote participation, October 10.
- La Gobernanza de Internet y su actualidad. Invited by Mendoza Supreme Court Judge, Mario Adaro. Maestría en Derecho Digital y Estado de la Universidad Champagnat, Mendoza, Argentina, remote participation, July 31.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE________________________________________________________________
ANNENBERG SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION, USC
Research Assistant (November 2022- Aug 2024)
2022-2024
USA
LA
- Provided research, technical and logistical support to Manuel Castells in the publication of his latest book, Digital Society (2024)
BERKMAN KLEIN CENTER FOR INTERNET & SOCIETY (Harvard Law)
Fellow (2017-2018) – Affiliate (July 2018- Oct 2024)
2017-2024
USA.
Boston
- Co-chair of the Re-Decentralizing the Web Study Group;
- Co-founder of Emerging Digital Issues in the Global South (EDIGS) working group, Co-Editor of #ThinkSouth Fanzine,
- Published op-eds on AI, decentralization of the web, and internet governance (Open Democracy, Common Dreams, Planeta Chatbot, Medium)
- Coordinated and chaired round-tables on algorithmic accountability with academics from Harvard and MIT.
- Coordinated round-tables on competition within the tech industry with former US Government officials.
ACADEMIC ADVOCACY
2015- 2024
Global
WEB FOUNDATION
Senior Policy Fellow (2019-2020) // Policy Fellow (2017 –2019)
2017-2020
USA/UK
Boston/London
- Technical and operational support to Tim Berners-Lee on policy issues.
- Designed templates and coordinated the Working Groups that drafted the ContractfortheWeb.org . Lead WF negotiator.
- Designed methodology and co-authored research on Facebook’s News Feed algorithm & the Use of automated systems by Latin American Governments
- Produced WFs presentation on Net Neutrality before the FCC.
- Coordinated, revised and edited publications on AI, algorithms and personal control over personal data
- Represented the Foundation at conferences and round-tables.
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT
2015 – 2022
Washington D.C.
- Open Markets Institute - Summer Compass Fellow –Developing a monitor of newspaper dependencies on infrastructure managed by big tech. Conducted interviews with journalists and newspaper technology managers (Summer 2022).
Latam
Mex/Bra/Arg/Col
ASOCIACIÓN CIVIL POR LA IGUALDAD Y LA JUSTICIA (ACIJ)
Strengthening of Democratic Institutions
2011-2014
Argentina
BA
ICT projects
- Defined strategy and implemented a digital campaign against a major reform of the judiciary. Coordinated support from NGOs for what became the fastest growing online petition in Argentina (140.000 signatures in 7 days +17,000 Facebook likes). Massive repercussions in media and Senate (reformajusticia.org + Change)
- Drafted script, sketched visuals, and supervised development of a TV spot against the reform of the judiciary (+21,000 views on YouTube)
- Sketched and co-developed prototype of web application for the National Ombudsman to simplify presentation of complaints and facilitate public access to reports.
- Coordinated activities with programmers to crowdsource the systematization of information contained in PDFs of asset declarations of politicians throughout Argentina (see IJNET)
- Co-designed a cutting-edge grant-winning project on the use of ICTs for transparency and citizen participation throughout the judge selection process (CAD$ 50.000). Brainstormed a grant-winning project on civic-tech to crowd-control progress of public works in shanty towns (U$145.000 - see The Guardian).
- Supervised redesigning process of ACIJ’s website and creation of three blogs: increased interactivity and simplified navigability.
Justice Initiatives
- Developed and applied a real-time online debate forum on judicial reform. Coordinated participation of leading figures of national debate on judicial reform, such as María L. Garrigós, and debated with them
- Created and represented two web-based observatories on judge selection processes (city of BA and nationwide: Implemented crowdsourcing methods as input for analysis of regulations and practices for periodic posts on irregularities detected (+86,000 views). Created interactive graphs to visualize results through Tableau Public. Succeeded in generating a major transparency reform in the City of BA: Sued the Council for not granting public access to videos of oral exams and interviews. Council now publishes videos on YouTube.
- Drafted challenges against the designation of a Judge and the State Prosecutor, the contents of which were used by several senators during the Public Hearing, and were published by the press.
- Coordinated actions from five NGOs that solicit a Legislative rectification in the appointment of a new auditor, which violates constitutionally recognized gender quota
- Coordinated actions from five NGOs in a campaign for the appointment of a National Ombuds.
Supreme Audit Institutions
- Researched and assessed best practices on transparency, participation, accountability, and use of ICTs by Latin American Supreme Audit Institutions. Networked national and sub-national officials of Latin America and representatives of labor union. Organized conferences and managed the budget. (Project supported by the World Bank Institute and Open Society Foundations)
- Designed and created interactive website to disseminate research on transparency and participative practices implemented by Supreme Audit Institutions of Latin America, and promote and facilitate interaction between regional actors.
- Collaborated in the drafting of laws on Access to Information and Open Government.
PRESS______________________________________________________________________
OPINION
2025
- Ortiz Freuler, J. (2025). Re-networking Digital Infrastructure: A Non-Aligned Tech Movement to take us beyond the Age of Informational Capitalism. Backchannels blog of the Society for Social Studies of Science (4s). https://4sonline.org/news_manager.php?page=39356
2023
2022
2021
2020
2018
2017
2016
2014
2013
TELEVISION
RADIO/PODCASTS/INTERVIEWS
2021
2020
2014
2013
2012
SELECTED COMMENTARY & MEDIA COVERAGE
2024
2021
2019
2018
2017
2015
2014
2013
- Clarín, “The process of Judge selection under a microscope” (September 18, 2013)
- El Tribuno (Salta), “A website promotes transparency in the selection of judges from around the country” (September 19, 2013)
- International Journalists Network, “Journalists, programmers and lawyers collaborate to open government data” (December 11, 2013).
- Tiempo Judicial ,“Proposals to reform Judge selection processes: Transparent and competitive contests” (September 23, 2013).
- La Nación Data,“Fifteen (15) Open Data Projects showcased at AbreLatam” (June 26, 2013).
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS______________________________________________________
2025
2024
- Workshop presenter. Technology for active non-alignment. The Cluster of Excellence "Contestations of the Liberal Script" (SCRIPTS) at Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany, December 8-10.
- Panelist. Disarming the propaganda machines. The Hague Program on International Cyber Security, Democracy and Cyberspace, The Hague, Netherlands, November 12-13.
- Poster presentation. The case for a Critical Media Infrastructure Monitor: Analyzing the control points reshaping the media model and market. Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy (TPRC). Washington D.C., September 19-21.
- Meetup presenter. Decolonising data infrastructures. Society for Social Studies of Science (4S). Amsterdam, Netherlands, July 16-19.
2023
- Panelist. Non-aligned technological movements: Towards a sustainable digital future. Society for Social Studies of Science (4S). Honolulu, November 8-11.
- Speaker. The weaponization of communication infrastructure: A historical overview- Symposium in Cybersecurity & Public Policy. Fletcher School, Tufts University, Medford, March 31.
- Speaker. Towards informational disarmament. FORGE NYU, New York, November 2-5.
- Poster presentation. Shark Patterns: Recording how apps engage with browser choice. Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy (TPRC). Washington D.C., September 21-23.
- Panelist. Shark Patterns: How apps are eating up the web. Renmin University Student Symposium. Beijing, China, July 27-31.
- Panelist. The weaponization of corporate infrastructure. International Political Science Association (IPSA), Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 15-19.
- Workshop Co-coordinator. Funding patterns in nonprofits: Challenges and strategies. RightsCon, San José, Costa Rica, Remote participation, June 5-8.
2022
- Panelist. Datafication and the reorganization of the category “individual.”, Society for Social Studies of Science (4s), Puebla, Mexico, December 7-10.
- Panelist. The weaponization of the internet. Society for Social Studies of Science (4s), Puebla, Mexico, December 7-10.
- Panelist. Shark Patterns: How high are the walls around your walled garden? Global Digital Cultures Conference, University of Amsterdam. Amsterdam, Netherlands, June 1-2.
- Speaker - The weaponization of Corporate Infrastructure [Recording]- UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, remote participation, November 28 - December 2.
- Panelist. Translating principles into practice: The Contract for the Web. Digital Constitutionalism Network Symposium, CAIS, Bochum, Germany, June 27-30.
- Workshop Co-coordinator. Funding patterns in nonprofits: Challenges and strategies. RightsCon, online conference, June 6-10.
- Panelist. The weaponization of corporate infrastructure. Platform Governance, Sovereignty and the Return of Governance for Digital Platforms, International Communication Association Pre-Conference, remote participation, May 25-26.
2021
2020
2019
2018
- Co-Chair. Centralization, decentralization & re-centralization: Breaking the Cycle (with Cory Doctorow and Primavera DeFilippi), Decentralised Web Summit, San Francisco, July 30-August 2.
- Panelist. Data ethics & AI. International Open Data Conference (IODC), Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 27-28.
- Workshop Co-Lead. Borges & the future of open data.International Open Data Conference (IODC). Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 27-28.
- Speaker. Open data & AI: Opportunities and limitations. Open Government Partnership (OGP), Tbilisi, Georgia, July 17-18.
2016
2013
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
2025
2024
- Panelist. Artificial intelligence and democracy: Contemporary challenges and perspectives. School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute, Florence, Italy, May 30-31.
- Speaker. Global trends in politics, technology and funding that are shaping the digital rights ecosystem. The Global Network of Social Justice and Digital Resilience (Ford Foundation), Berlin, Germany, April 19-21.
- Workshop session lead. Advancing non-aligned technologies towards a robust decolonial movement. Tierra Común Summit-Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia, June 8-9.
- Panelist. AI as a public good: Ensuring democratic control of AI in the information space. Forum on Information and Democracy/Observacom. Santiago de Chile, Chile, remote participation, May 2.
2023
- Panelist. Curación algorítmica y el creciente control de las plataformas de redes sociales sobre nuestra esfera de información. Observacom, Montevideo, Uruguay, remote participation, October 18.
- Participant. Berkman Klein at 25. Berkman Klein Center, Cambridge, MA, September 8-9.
- Invited Panelist. Desmontando los sesgos en los algoritmos: un diálogo intersectorial. School of Transnational Governance, at the European University Institute, Florence, Italy, remote participation, February 2.
2022
- Participant Future of institutions digital IPCC round-table dialogue. New America, Washington D.C., remote participation, July 27.
- Panelist. Taxes and the redistribution of value by online platforms. Equitable Benefit Sharing Convening. Fundação Gertulio Vargas - Open Society Foundations. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 13-15.
- Speaker. The weaponization of corporate infrastructure. 6th International Governance Talks. Governance and Policy Think Tank (GPTT), Sharif University of Technology, remote participation, June 22.
- Roundtable discussant. AI and the city - Hosted by the CIRM at McGill University, Montreal, Canada, remote participation, February 10.
- Speaker. How are we connected? Geopolitics & technology. Hosted by Conflux Center for International Cooperation, Belgrade, Serbia,, remote participation, January 25.
2021
- Roundtable discussant. How to protect the Open Internet? With Nick Pickles (Head of Global Policy, Twitter ), Shannon McGregor, (University of North Carolina), Adi Robertson (The Verge). Hosted by Mathew Ingram. Galley, Columbia Journalism Review, remote participation,
- Panelist. Digital Emancipation in Latin America. Stanford Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, Stanford, CA, remote participation, May 19.
- Panelist. Inteligencia Artificial y su impacto en la libertad de expresión. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM)-Article 19, Mexico City, Mexico, remote participation,. January 20.
2020
- Workshop Co-Lead. The Declaration(s) of the Interdependence of Cyberspace. RadicalXChange. San Francisco, CA, remote participation, June 21.
- Speaker. Reimagining the Internet. Something Digital Conference, Brisbane, Australia, remote participation, October 20.
- Speaker. Hacia un movimiento digital de no alineados. Centro de Estudios para la Libertad de Expresión (CELE), Universidad de Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, remote participation, December 9.
- Panelist. La democracia en suspenso. Territorio Digital, Santiago de Chile, Chile, remote participation, September 30.
- Panelist. Towards a Non-Aligned Tech Movement. University of Southern California - ARNIC, Los Angeles, CA, remote participation, October 13.
- Facilitator. Equitable health futures in AI. Wilton Park-Governing Health Futures 2030, Wilton Park, U.K, remote participation, September 3-4.
- Panelist. Redes Sociales vs. Debate Público. Observacom-AccessNow, Montevideo, Uruguay, remote participation, June 23.
2019
- Panelist. Disinformation in electoral contexts. Organization of American States (OAS), Mexico City, Mexico, April 30.
- Roundtable discussant. Digital development and global data law. Guarini Global Law & Tech at New York University (NYU). New York, NY, April 26-27.
- Participant. Facebook Oversight Board Roundtable. Facebook, Mexico City, Mexico, June 7.
- Participant. Content & Jurisdiction Contact Group Roundtables. Internet & Jurisdiction. Paris, France, January 23-24.
2018
- Speaker. AI opportunities and risks in Low and Middle Income Countries. UNDP Eurasia, Istanbul, Turkey, Webinar, February 9.
- Participant. Trust and Opening Governance. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Opening Governance, NYU GovLab & Beeck Center, Washington D.C., April 9.
- Panelist. Personal Control over personal data. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Opening Governance, NYU GovLab, New York, NY, October 16-17.
- Panelist. The Facebook Dilemma. Spaceus, Cambridge, MA., October 5.
2017
2014
2013
- Panelist. Leveraging ICTs to advocate for change. Punto ONG - ITBA University, Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 11.
- Panelist. Creating transparent contests for positions in the Judiciary. Federal Forum of the Council of Magistrates, Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 28-29.
- Roundtable Participant. Using social networks for political campaigning and fundraising. US Embassy, Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 15.
- Panelist. Appointment of Federal Judges in La Rioja. AIRE, La Rioja, Argentina. La Rioja, April 15.
- Panelist. Appointment of Federal Judges in Tucumán. ANDHES, Tucumán, Argentina, April 12.
2012
EVENT ORGANIZATION (SELECTED) ___________________________________
2022
- Workshop Co-organizer. Non-Disclosure Agreements and the encroachment on public knowledge. JustLabs. Sedona, Jan 9-12
2020
2019
- Round Table Organizer. To break-up or to Regulate Big Tech: A Private Roundtable with former leadership of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Harvard Berkman Klein Center, Cambridge, MA, August 9.
2017-2020
- Co-organizer. Monthly Luncheon series for the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). MIT, Cambridge, MA. Over 20 speakers convened.
GRANTS__________________________________________________________________
EXTERNAL
- UNESCO ($20,000 USD) for research toward a report on ROAM-X indicators in Argentina (2021).
- Open Society Foundations ($5,000 USD) for seed funding on a project to develop methods and visualizations showing the impact of app design on competition (2021).
- Open Collective ($5000 USD) for workshop on the re-decentralization of the internet (2020)
- Canadian Government ($50,000 CAD) for an online observatory of judicial contests in Argentina (2013).
Supported the drafting of 6 additional successful grant applications.
Completed COMM-613 course on Grant Writing in Communication, led by Prof. Lynn Miller (USC).
INTERNAL
- Summer Research Fellowship, USC Annenberg, $2,000 (2023)
- Professional Development Fund, USC Graduate Student Government, $500 (2022)
HONORS____________________________________________________________________
- Received the Emerging Scholar Award from the Pacific Telecommunications Council (2025)
- Awarded the Wallis Annenberg Fellowship, by the Wallis Annenberg Chair, Manuel Castells (2022)
- Selected amongst students from top Universities for fully funded participation in the Open Society OSIRG Program (2015)
- Awarded Chevening Scholarship (2014)
- First of Class (Gold Medal) awarded by the UTDT Faculty of Law (2008)
ACADEMIC SERVICE__________________________________________________________
- Member of the Centro Latam Digital Academic Committee (2021-2023)
- Peer reviewer for MIT Press (2019), Big Data and Society (2024), Contemporary Security Policy (2024), Revista Latinoamericana de Economia y Sociedad Digital, Derecho PUCP, and others.
- Elected Vice-President of Graduate Student Association at Annenberg, USC (2022)
- Elected Student representative at the Oxford Internet Institute (2015)
- Elected International Students' Representative at St. Anne's College, Oxford (2014),
COMMUNITY SERVICE________________________________________________________
- 2011 – City of Buenos Aires’ Judiciary: Assisted unregistered voters during elections in Villa 31 (Informal housing district in Buenos Aires).
- 2010 – Comparte Fair Trade: Earthquake correspondent in southern Chile. Travelled for a month interviewing and publishing online reports regarding the post-earthquake living conditions of artisan network members.
- 2007 – Junior Achievement: Tutor of “The Advantages of Not Dropping Out” program at a public school in the periphery of Buenos Aires.
- 2005 & 2006 – Conciencia CSO: Summer Intern of Porvenir program: Preventing child labour in tobacco fields of Salta and Jujuy. Organised classes on civil and social rights.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS____________________________________________________
- International Communication Association (ICA)
- International Political Science Association (IPSA)
- Society for the Social Studies of Science (4S)
- International Public Policy Association (IPPA)
ADDITIONAL SKILLS____________________________________________
- Languages
- Native: Spanish.
- Bilingual: English.
- Intermediate: French and Portuguese
- Data collection, analytics, and visualisation
- Advanced: Tableau Public and Open Refine. Proficient: R Studio. Basic: Python and SQL.
- Completed MOOC on Data Journalism from U.Texas & Knight Center (2013).
- Theatre
- Completed three years of classes (2010-2013) at El Duende Theatre School (Stanislavsky method, led by Lizardo Laphitz), which I build upon when developing class exercises.