Position: Associate Professor in Law, Robotics and Society in the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada
Links:
University Website
Personal Website
Twitter
Expertise Areas: Law of Robots, Drones, Privacy
Contact: thomasen@uwindsor.ca
Bio:
Kristen Thomasen is one of the leading Canadian experts in robotics law and policy, specializing in drone regulation and the privacy impacts of robotic technologies. Kristen Thomasen re-joined Windsor Law as an Associate Professor and Chair in Law, Robotics, and Society in 2024. She was previously an Assistant Professor in Law, Robotic, and Society at Windsor Law from 2017-2020 and an Assistant Professor at Allard Law at UBC from 2021-2024. Professor Thomasen researches and teaches in Tort Law and Law and Technology, with a particular focus on the legal treatment of robotic and automated technologies, surveillance, and space.
Professor Thomasen is currently the Chair of We Robot 2025, one of the leading interdisciplinary and international conferences on robotics law and policy, which will be hosted at Windsor Law on April 4-5. As well, she is the Senior Chair is Law, Robotics & Society.
Kristen earned her JD degree at the University of Ottawa, and holds a BA (Hons.) in Anthropology from McMaster University and an MA in International Affairs from Carleton University. She completed her PhD in Law at the University of Ottawa, her dissertation has a focus on public space privacy intrusions facilitated by robots/artificial intelligence (e.g. drones, facial recognition technology). Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, she served as law clerk to the Honourable Madam Justice Rosalie Abella at the Supreme Court of Canada and clerked for the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, as well as articling for Alberta Justice.
Kristen has published her research in several articles and book chapters, most recently a piece on “Robots, Regulation, and the Changing Nature of Public Space” in the Ottawa Law Review. She is a regular public commentator in the mainstream media and other channels, and serves on the Legal Expertise Committee of the Foundation for Responsible Robotics, as well as the International Committee for Robot Arms Control. At Windsor Law, she taught in the areas of privacy law, torts, and robotics law and policy. At Allard Law, she will be teaching “Special Topics in Law and Technology: Law, Robotics, and Society” in Winter 2021.
