Imad al-Din Payande has a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences from the University of Tehran. He directs the Data Sovereignty research group within the Data for Governance Lab (D4GLab). Before that, he spent more than three years as a media policy researcher and analyst at Sharif Governance Think Tank (GPTT). Relying on the literature of regulation and public policy, He brings about policy briefs and consultations, helping regulatory bodies in the field of ICT and Cyberspace reinforce data-driven policy-making, to support public interest, protect the domestic market and drive social change in the age of “Data is the new oil.” Mainly, he is interested in emerging approaches to disruptive technologies regulation and “How to get away from digital totalitarianism” in favor of reg-tech solutions and co-creation.