Hello! I’m Irene.
I earned my PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto, specialising in Comparative Politics and Public Policy. My dissertation examined how Southeast Asian governments shape, regulate, and control the flow of information online. I have a Master’s degree in Political Science and Asia Pacific Studies from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of British Columbia (UBC).
For over a decade, I have been a Senior Researcher at The Citizen Lab, an interdisciplinary research lab focused on digital technology and human rights, based at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto. I lead research on information controls through legal frameworks, technological infrastructure, surveillance technologies, and algorithmic governance, with attention to their impact on human rights, democracy, and civic engagement. I also manage collaborative research initiatives with partners in the Global South.
My research interests include the politics of internet regulation in Southeast Asia, the governance of digital infrastructure, surveillance technology and gendered digital repression, and the geopolitical implications of platform regulation and data sovereignty. Read more about my research.
I have taught in the Department of Political Science, the Asian Institute, and the Munk School at the University of Toronto. A passionate educator and mentor, I teach courses on the governance of digital technology, the human rights implications of algorithmic systems, and Southeast Asian politics. My curriculum design connects theoretical frameworks with real-world challenges, preparing students to become informed digital citizens and future advocates. Read more about my courses.
Previously, I worked for Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Human Security Report Project, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), and UBC’s Centre for Southeast Asia Research at the Institute of Asian Research. I was also an intern at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN OHCHR) Southeast Asia Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand.
I was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, and currently reside in Toronto, Canada. I am a native speaker of Bahasa Indonesia and fluent in English. I have prior experience with R, and I am learning Python for data science.
I am currently accepting new consulting engagements. You can contact me to discuss potential collaborations. I welcome the opportunity to support relevant research, policy, or advocacy goals.