Thorsten Wetzling

Dr. Thorsten Wetzling heads the research unit "Digital Rights, Surveillance and Democracy" of the Berlin-based think tank interface (previously SNV). His work focuses on the review of legal frameworks and independent oversight mechanisms for different modes of access and processing of data by security and intelligence agencies in Europe. 

Thorsten is the convenor of the European Intelligence Oversight Network (EION) which regularly explores ideas and challenges for democratic intelligence governance in collaborative workshops with oversight practitioners from across the continent. Thorsten is also the founder and chief editor of aboutintel.eu – a European discussion forum on surveillance, technology and democracy.

Thorsten recently assisted the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) in finding common standards for law enforcement and national security access to personal data held by private sector entities. 

Thorsten was also commissioned by the Council of Europe (CoE) as scientific expert to examine the scope of exemptions in the modernized Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to the Processing of Personal Data.

Thorsten Wetzling received his PhD in Political Science from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.