Daniel Trottier

Daniel Trottier is an Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communication at Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, Erasmus University Rotterdam. His research focuses on the social impacts of digital technologies, particularly surveillance, privacy, and the public exposure of personal information. He leads major research projects including AI-MAPS, SYMTRA, and IcARUS, and is co-lead of Theme 6 'Data and cyber harms at work' in the SSH-Breed sector plan. He chairs the Research Ethics Review Committee at ESHCC and teaches in the International BSc Communication and Media, MA Media Studies, and Research Master Sociology of Culture, Media and the Arts.

• PhD in Sociology, Queen’s University, Canada (2011)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alberta
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Uppsala University, Sweden
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Westminster, UK

Daniel’s research explores how digital media transforms visibility, privacy, and social control. His work investigates digital vigilantism, online shaming, and the ethics of AI in public safety. He examines how individuals and organizations navigate the exposure of private information and the consequences of public denunciation. His research spans sociology, media studies, and criminology, with a strong emphasis on empirical and critical analysis of digital culture.

His recent publications focus on norm enforcement in online communities like Reddit, the role of digital media in public shaming, cross-cultural privacy attitudes, and live-streamed antisocial behavior. These works reflect a consistent engagement with themes of digital scrutiny, accountability, and ethical governance in networked societies.

• Surveillance Studies Network 2013 book prize

Daniel has supervised eight PhD researchers and served as examiner for 17 PhD dissertations across disciplines including criminology, psychology, and political science. He has secured competitive research grants such as the VIDI award and multiple Horizon project contributions. His academic service includes leadership in research ethics and national research coordination through SSH-Breed.

Daniel is affiliated with ERMeCHS research clusters, including REACT - Responsible Engagement with AI, Culture and Technology, and PCI - Popular Culture and Inequalities. He is also involved in international collaborations with institutions such as the University of Toronto, the University of Tokyo, and Carleton University.