What does your data really say about you? And how much do platforms like Google already know?

On October 7, artist, researcher, and data protection ambassador Julia Janssen will host an interactive workshop based on her art installation Dear Data. In addition to her independent artistic practice, she acts as an ambassador on behalf of Stichting Databescherming Nederland (Dutch Data Protection Foundation) in legal cases against Amazon, Adobe, and X. In the evening, she will continue the discussion as a panel member at Helix: AI and Democracy.

This workshop exposes the hidden economy behind your clicks, searches, and digital traces. Through examples and hands-on exercises, you’ll see how your personal data is continuously collected, categorized, and sold. Participants will guess which profiles belong to whom, uncover how Google and other platforms label them, and confront the question: can data ever represent the full complexity of human identity?

Both informative and practical, Dear Data shows you where to find your own data, how it is used to influence you, and what rights you have under the GDPR. Come prepared with your phone or laptop, and be ready to face the uncomfortable truths behind your digital footprint.

Julia Janssen is an artist, speaker, and data protection ambassador whose work investigates how data, AI, and technology shape our daily lives and public space. Through interactive and performative installations, she reveals the hidden mechanisms of our digital world and invites audiences to reflect on urgent questions of equality, freedom, fairness, autonomy, and democracy in a data-driven society. As an ambassador for Stichting Data Bescherming Nederland (Dutch Data Protection Foundation), Janssen also plays an active role in legal action against major tech companies, including X/Twitter, Amazon, and Adobe.

Discover more about Julia Janssen

Workshop Time: Tuesday 7 October 15:00 – 17:30
Language: English
Location: Microstad, Professor Doctor Dorgelolaan 2, 5611 BA Eindhoven

Don't forget to bring a Google account signed in to your own laptop or phone.

Link to workshop ticket shop. Limited spots available!

Hosted by Helix
Time: Tuesday 7 October 20:00
Speakers: Jasper Kars, Jorim Theuns, and Julia Janssen
Moderator: Bernhard Lenger
Language: English

Our democracy—as we know it—is under pressure. Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly prominent role in this. Deepfakes of politicians blur the boundaries between fact and fiction. Microtargeting influences voters with tailor-made messages, while automated bots flood the public sphere with streams of disinformation. Filter bubbles trap us in one-sided perspectives, fueling polarization and radicalization.​At the same time, AI also has something to offer democracy—such as opportunities to renew direct democracy. What role can AI play in transparent collaboration between government and citizens? Can AI help foster understanding between people? Can AI act as a unifying force instead of a dividing one? On this evening, we will take you on a journey through the world of AI and democracy: moving from the challenges to the possibilities.

Register now and learn more about the evening event: AI and Democracy