Dr. Therrien's research explores the intersection of law, technology, and society, with particular focus on how legal frameworks can adapt to emerging technologies while ensuring equitable and just governance. His work spans AI regulation, smart cities, data governance, and the integration of diverse legal traditions in digital contexts.
Doctoral Dissertation
Doctorate in Law (LLD), Université de Montréal, 2021
Peer-Reviewed Articles
"Indigenous Graphics and Aesthetics and Generative Artificial Intelligence: Risks of Future (and Present) Misappropriation"
Forthcoming
"The Montreal Model for Integrating Ethics and Legal Compliance to Data Governance Frameworks for Smart City Projects"
2024 IEEE International Smart Cities Conference (ISC2), 2024
doi: 10.1109/ISC260477.2024.11004227
"Legal narratives of smart cities: opacity, intelligibility, and compliancy in projects, norms, and futures"
Pensar-Revista de Ciências Jurídicas, Vol. 27, No. 4, 2022, pp. 1–26
"Law as Network and The Matrix: Over-affection for my subject made the red pill hard to swallow"
Cahiers de recherche en droit, Vol. 3, 2015, pp. 19–26
"The Brazilian Civil Rights Framework for the Internet (or the Virtual Times of a Postmodern Law)"
Pensar - Revista de Ciências Jurídicas, Vol. 20, No. 3, 2015, pp. 746–766
Book Chapters
"Digital Sovereignty and Artificial Intelligence: Challenges for the Brazilian Judiciary for a post-Big Tech world"
Forthcoming
"Do Québec ao Ceará: A trajetória intelectual de um missionário da educação"
In Formação de professores e racionalidade pedagógica: Uma homenagem ao professor Jacques Therrien. Fortaleza: Editora da UECE, 2022, p. 282
"Cidade futurista, inteligência artificial e ficção científica: expectativas, aprendizados e prudências"
In Chiara de Teffé, Sérgio Branco & Victor Vicente (eds.), Cidades inteligentes em perspectivas. Rio de Janeiro: Obliq, ITS, 2019
"Computação em nuvem e cidades inteligentes: das convicções tecnológicas às precauções jurídicas"
In Jhessica Francielli Reia et al (eds.), Horizonte presente: Debates de tecnologia e sociedade. Rio de Janeiro: Casa do Direito e Fundação Getúlio Vargas, 2019
"Digitalization, Culture and Law: The Digital Leap in The North America Sandbox"
In Géraldine Goffaux-Callebaut & Institut d'études de droit public (Université Paris-Sud) (eds.), Éthique et patrimoine culturel: regards croisés. Collection Droit du patrimoine culturel et naturel. Paris: L'Harmattan, 2016, p. 229
Other Publications
"O metaverso e seus horizontes políticos a partir do Sul Global"
Rio de Janeiro: ITS Rio, 2023
"Modèles et enjeux pour le déploiement des réseaux de télécommunication de prochaine génération en contexte municipal"
Montréal: CEFRIO, June 2018
Carta Capital, December 9, 2015
Speaking Engagements & Conference Presentations
Selected presentations from the last 10 years
2025
"Agir ensemble : la cybersécurité au service des OBNL"
Centre Canadien pour la résilience numérique des organismes sans but lucratif • October 28, 2025
"How Legal Theory Determines What We Regulate in Artificial Intelligence"
UdeM Summer School in Brazil, ITS Rio • July 23, 2025
"(AI and) Data Governance Frameworks – The Case of 'Montréal en Commun'"
How MTL Does AI Right, Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University • February 7, 2025
2024
"AI: Cybersecurity's Double-Edged Sword – Enhancing Defense or Empowering Crime?"
Elevate Festival, Toronto • October 2, 2024
"Gouvernance des données pour le milieu municipale"
Institut EDS, Université Laval • March 15, 2024
"Advancing AI in the Public Sector"
Concordia University • January 30, 2024
2023
"Les données ouvertes : pour qui, avec qui, aujourd'hui, dans un contexte de crises multiples ?"
Journée des savoirs ouverts, Project Collectif • November 30, 2023
"Indigenous Graphics and Generative AI"
Shaping AI for Just Futures, University of Ottawa • October 18, 2023
"Data governance for a trusted global internet"
Canadian Internet Governance Forum • October 4, 2023
"Inteligência Artificial Generativa"
State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and ITS • August 8, 2023
"Smart Cities & GovTech"
UNIFOR • May 11-18, 2023
"O metaverso e seus horizontes políticos a partir do Sul Global"
ITS Rio • March 11, 2023
2022
"Déontologie : approche comparée France / Québec (Professions règlementées – Professions non-réglementées – Numérisation des professions)"
Université de Montréal • May 27, 2022
2021
"Pesquisa jurídica, literatura e tecnologia"
ITS Rio • November 5, 2021
"Encadrement aux cycles supérieurs : Les ressources des ESP et quelques bonnes pratiques"
Université de Montréal • November 4, 2021
"O Movimento Direito e Literatura e sua importância no imaginário jurídico"
ESMEC/Tribunal de Justiça do Ceará • April 14, 2021
"Cybersécurité et cyberintimidation en milieu universitaire"
Université de Montréal • February 16, 2021
2020
"O imaginário jurídico das cidades inteligentes: explorando o Direito e o futuro"
UFERSA • June 3, 2020
"Online Dispute Resolution no Canadá"
Universidade de Fortaleza • May 29, 2020
2019
"Legal Research, Smart Cities, Artificial Intelligence, and Text Analytics: Looking for Expected Patterns and Dealing with Unforeseen Results"
ITS Rio Law School • July 4, 2019
2018
"Smart Cities: social opportunities and legal challenges"
ThinkAI Meetup – Smart Cities // Villes intelligentes, Desjardins Lab • March 14, 2018
2017
"Artificial Intelligence, Law, and Online Dispute Resolution"
Universidade de Fortaleza • November 29, 2017
"Les villes cyberpunks et ma thèse"
Lecture series "Villes intelligentes et translucides : perspectives urbaines et juridiques," Faculté de droit, Université de Montréal • October 10, 2017
2016
"Science, technology, and law: a dialogue with the works of Boaventura de Sousa Santos"
Bishop's University • November 29, 2016
"Science & Technologie : l'embrasement des paradigmes juridiques"
Faculté de droit, Université de Montréal • November 1, 2016
2015
"International Human Right Conventions Applicable to Data Protection"
ATLAS Agora Meeting 2015, Faculté de droit, Université de Montréal • June 18, 2015
"Paperless Judicial Proceedings: Cyberjustice initiatives in the Brazilian context"
Summer School, Cyberjustice Laboratory, Université de Montréal • June 13, 2015