Staff Profile

Dr Rebecca Owens is a Research Associate on the EPSRC-funded AGENCY project at Newcastle University. On this project, she collaborates with a cross-functional team to advise on digital policies, conduct empirical and socio-technical research, and develop new technology to empower users.

She has a PhD in intellectual property and competition law from the University of Liverpool, where she also earned her LLM (with distinction) and LLB (honours) and received several awards.

Rebecca joined Newcastle Law School in September 2022, bringing a passion for interdisciplinary socio-technical research. Her research has been supported by several highly competitive scholarships and funding totalling over £100,000, including:

• John Lennon Memorial Scholarship from the University of Liverpool fully funded her master's research.
• Sir Joseph Rotblat Alumni Scholarship for the University of Liverpool to fully fund her doctoral research.
• Funds for Women Graduates Main Foundation Award to support her doctoral research.
• ESRC Impact Acceleration Award to further develop a financial inclusion product.

Recognised as a rising star in socio-technical cyber security, Rebecca holds a Research Institute of Socio-Technical Cyber Security Associate Fellowship and is a former Newcastle University Policy Academy Fellow.

Research Overview

Dr Rebecca Owens' research champions the promotion of digital citizen agency. She investigates the intersection of law and emerging technologies, exploring how legal frameworks can be adapted to empower users against complex, unintended online harms.

A Pioneering Approach: Rebecca employs cutting-edge socio-technical methodologies and empirical research to bridge the gap between legal theory and practice. This innovative approach drives her work in critical areas such as cyber law, privacy, and financial inclusion. It has led to her recognition as a rising star in socio-technical cybersecurity research by the Research Institute of Socio-Technical Cyber-Security.

Significant Impact: Rebecca's dedication is reflected in her peer-reviewed publications, invited talks, and £100,000 of research funding. Highlights include:

• The creation of new technologies designed to empower users and enhance digital agency.
• Leading a multidisciplinary team in the FCA's Financial Inclusion TechSprint.
• Leading an ESRC Festival of Social Science event in collaboration with Newcastle City Library to empower users with their data rights.

• Articles

  • Olabode S, Owens R, Zhang N, Copilah-Ali J, Kolomeets M, Wu H, Malviya S, Markeviciute K, Spiliotopoulos T, Neesham C, Shi L, Chambers D. Complex Online Harms and the Smart Home: A Scoping Review. Future Generation Computer Systems 2023, 149, 664-678.
  • Gokani N, Garde A, Philpott M, Ireland R, Owens R, Boyland E. UK Nutrition Research Partnership 'Hot Topic' Workshop Report: A 'game changer' for dietary health: addressing the implications of sport sponsorship by food businesses through an innovative interdisciplinary collaboration. Nutrition Bulletin 2022, 47(1), 115-122.

• Book Chapter

  • Owens R. Personalised Shopping and Algorithmic Pricing: How EU Competition Law Can Protect Consumers in the Digital World. In: Custers B; Fosch-Villaronga E, ed. Law and Artificial Intelligence: Regulating AI and Applying AI in Legal Practice. The Hague: T.M.C. Asser Press, 2022, pp.395–410.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

  • Copilah-Ali J, Owens R, Wu H, Zhang N, Olabode S, Durrant A, Vlachokyriakos V, Elliot K. Responsible AI and the Smart Home Environment: A Multidisciplinary Overview of Issues, Challenges, and Solutions. In: International Conference on AI and the Digital Economy (CADE 2023). 2023, Venice, Italy: IET.