Elisa Orrù

Elisa Orrù is a Senior Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, Department of Public Law, and holds a venia legendi in philosophy from the University of Freiburg. She previously served as a visiting professor for Modern/Economic Philosophy at the University of Freiburg in the summer semester of 2023. Her academic journey spans multiple prestigious institutions including the University of Milan, University of Pisa, Husserl Archive at the University of Freiburg, and Princeton University.

Dr. Orrù's educational background includes:

• Doctorate in Law from the University of Pisa (Italy), supervised by Prof. Danilo Zolo, with a dissertation on legitimacy issues of international tribunals
• Philosophy studies at the University of Milan (Italy)

Her research focuses on the intersection of digitalization, security, and fundamental rights. Dr. Orrù explores how emerging security paradigms, particularly those employing algorithmic approaches, impact democratic values, the rule of law, and individual autonomy. She examines privacy in the digital age, ethics of artificial intelligence, and the philosophical foundations of security policies within the European context. Her work bridges legal theory, political philosophy, and practical policy concerns, with particular attention to how security measures affect marginalized groups and democratic processes.

Dr. Orrù's publication record reveals a consistent focus on the tension between security imperatives and fundamental rights in the digital age. Her work spans privacy theory, algorithmic governance, EU security policy, and the philosophical implications of emerging technologies. A significant portion of her research examines the work of historical figures like Olympe de Gouges to inform contemporary debates about rights, autonomy, and security. Her interdisciplinary approach combines insights from law, philosophy, and political science to address pressing challenges in digital governance.

Dr. Orrù serves on the editorial team of the journal "Jura Gentium" and acts as an external ethics advisor for the ERC project EXTREME ("The Rise and Fall of Populism and Extremism," PI Maria Petrova). She regularly reviews research proposals for the European Commission and the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Her research projects include:

• FreiburgRESIST – Safe Living in Freiburg: Resilience Management for the City (with Ralf Poscher)
• Algorithmic security and human autonomy (as project leader)

Dr. Orrù is actively involved with the transdisciplinary Centre for Security and Society at the University of Freiburg, where her work intersects with information technology, law, sociology, ethics, and politics.