Ot van Daalen
Ot van Daalen is a leading expert at the intersection of cybersecurity, privacy, digital rights, and societal resilience. He works as a lawyer, academic researcher, deputy judge, and journalist. This versatility makes him one of the most insightful and nuanced voices on the digital society in the Netherlands.
As a lawyer, he helps organizations operate responsibly and securely in a world where cyber threats, data misuse, and AI technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated. He is also affiliated with the Institute for Information Law at the University of Amsterdam, where he researches the legal and societal impact of digital technology. In his role as a deputy judge at the District Court of The Hague, he applies this expertise directly in practice.
Van Daalen became nationally known through the reestablishment of Bits of Freedom, the Netherlands’ leading digital civil rights organization. Under his leadership, the organization grew into an influential watchdog for privacy and internet freedom.
In 2025, his book Voorbereid was published, in which he examines how vulnerable the Netherlands is to disruption — ranging from cyberattacks to failing infrastructure — and whether governments, companies, and citizens are adequately prepared. The book provides not only sharp analyses but also practical guidance. In addition, Van Daalen writes as a journalist for, among others, De Correspondent, where he makes complex technical and societal issues accessible to a broad audience.
Ot van Daalen is a highly sought-after speaker due to his clear explanations, analytical depth, and ability to connect urgent digital issues with concrete solutions. He inspires and warns — always with attention to the human dimension.
Voorbereid, How Organizations Stay Resilient in an Uncertain World
In his lecture Voorbereid, Ot van Daalen demonstrates how vulnerable the Netherlands truly is to disruption and why organizations need to consider their risks much more broadly than just their own systems. Using realistic scenarios, he illustrates what happens when power fails, the internet goes down, payment systems stop, or vital infrastructure no longer functions. He connects recent events to the everyday practice of organizations.
For companies, one insight is crucial: in a crisis, continuity depends not only on your own preparation but also on that of others. What if banks are hit by ransomware? Can police and ambulance services still communicate after a blackout? And what does that mean for your business operations?
This lecture provides organizations with a clear and realistic view of the interdependencies in our digital and physical infrastructure. Ot van Daalen shows which risks are often overlooked, which questions organizations should ask, and which concrete steps help to increase resilience.