A graduate of Hanoi Law University in Vietnam, her path post graduation wasn’t straightforward. Setbacks in timing and family circumstances meant that she had to persevere through more than one missed opportunity. Determined to make her goal a reality, she applied to the University of Ottawa, drawn in by the Faculty of Law’s expertise in technology, privacy and artificial intelligence.
Ms. Nguyen’s research focuses on how emerging “right to disconnect” laws can protect employees and re-shape understandings of privacy in today’s hyperconnected “always-on” work culture. This fall, she joins the Faculty of Law’s LL.M. program, and the law school is pleased to announce that she is the recipient of the prestigious Ian R. Kerr Fellowship for 2025–2026, a fitting recognition of her resilience, ambition, and passion for the future of law and technology.
We caught up with Ms. Nguyen to learn more about her journey and her research:
Q: What is the focus of your research?
Thu Uyen Nguyen: I aim to delve into the right of employees to disconnect. The integration of technology in businesses is unavoidable. Robots and AI systems can erode our privacy, devoid of sentience, consciousness, cognition, human intervention, oversight, knowledge, or awareness.
Privacy legislation, artificial intelligence regulation, and digital and human rights in Vietnam are advancing swiftly. For instance, (2018) and are current and consistent with international standards relative to other nations. This arises from the notion that, in certain circumstances, humans and bots can achieve more significant outcomes collaboratively than independently. But despite robust cybersecurity and data protection legislation, issues regarding enforcement mechanisms and business-friendliness persist.
To conduct thorough comparative research on the subject of the right to disconnect, my work will involve a comprehensive analysis of existing laws and regulations concerning the right to disconnect in countries that have legalized this concept or that have developed an interest in the field, as well as interviews and surveys with experts in various fields.
Q: Tell us about one insight or discovery from your research that has been especially meaningful to you.
T.U.N.: I’ve realized that having a borderless workplace should not be the norm. Nowadays, people can connect too easily thanks to technological applications that provide access to working materials anywhere and anytime, making labour relations more tense.
On the one hand, with that close working relationship, employers expect more from their employees, assigning more tasks, sending out more texts, and eventually invading their privacy. On the other hand, as the labour market becomes more competitive and the unemployment rate rises, employees feel like they’re walking a tightrope at work, trying to meet all or most of their employers’ demands. And, while this reality has become the new normal for people around me, it should not be. The result of this “new normal” is numerous threats to workers’ mental health and an inability to attain work-life balance.
Q: What do you hope others will take away from your research?
T.U.N.: This research aims to recommend improvements to the Vietnamese legal system and contribute to the existing theoretical framework for employee protection. While Vietnam has laid the initial legal groundwork to protect the right to privacy, certain limitations remain compared to international law and other countries’ legislation.
The existing legal framework, first and foremost, lacks distinct documents and specific regulations addressing data privacy rights and personal information protection exclusively. Additionally, some current legal provisions governing the protection of personal data rights are ambiguous and based on broad principles, which may lead to misinterpretation and inconsistent application. Equally important, the regulations governing sanctions for violations of personal data rights are deemed insufficient and lack sufficient deterrent impact.
Q: Professor Ian Kerr was deeply committed to fostering diverse perspectives in conversations about law and technology. In what ways do you see your work reflecting or continuing that vision?
T.U.N.: My perspective is from and for a South East Asian developing country, creating a paradigm for others in innovative legal solutions, particularly within the Association of South East Asian nations (ASEAN) group. I intend to make recommendations to improve the law and policy regarding the right to disconnect in Vietnam. This examination, aimed at improving Vietnamese law, will serve as an example of the integration of law and emerging technology for others. In addition, I hope to contribute to the legal theories of privacy rights, data protection, and labour rights in the technology era, as well as the legal concepts of developing countries.
In my country, the prospect of developing a concentration in Law and Technology is both timely and promising, given the growing demand. With the country’s strong push for digital transformation, the endeavour to delve into this concentration could not only fill a critical gap in legal education but also position Vietnam as a regional leader in technology law. However, it may take a few years of groundwork as the key driver will be internationally trained scholars returning to Vietnam, who can both teach and contribute to institutional development.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering graduate studies in law?
T.U.N.: Studies in law can be both challenging and rewarding. Obtaining a graduate degree in law, particularly at a prestigious institution, can be challenging due to the extensive research required. If one is determined to take this path, they should thoroughly research their major and be clear about why they are pursuing graduate law studies – whether to specialize, change careers, enter academia, or improve their qualifications for international work.
After careful consideration, they should build their academic portfolio by joining student societies, research centres, and legal conferences. They can also participate in employers’ internships and research assistantships to gain practical or academic experience.
And the most important advice for someone considering graduate studies in law is to know how to ask for help, and to have the courage to reach out when you need it.
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The Ian R. Kerr Fellowships support outstanding students enrolled in the LLM in Law and Technology. Established in tribute to Professor Kerr’s contributions to technology law, the program aims to empower emerging researchers from non-traditional backgrounds and students from abroad.
Congratulations to Ms. Nguyen – we can’t wait to see where her research leads next!