It is with immense sadness that we at Center for Law, Internet and Society of IDP (CEDIS) We express our condolences regarding the passing of our beloved Director, Danilo Doneda.
For the past twenty years, Danilo has been present at the most important debates on law and technology. After spending some time working directly with Professor Stefano Rodotà at the Italian Data Protection Authority, Danilo began teaching at various universities in Brazil, bringing the debate on data protection to the forefront.
In 2006, he published the book "From Privacy to Personal Data Protection," his doctoral thesis at UERJ, recognized as one of the most comprehensive works on the subject in Brazil. In the following years, he engaged in discussions for the creation of a Civil Framework for the Internet, which would materialize in 2014. At the Consumer Protection Secretariat of the Ministry of Justice, Danilo dedicated himself to the creation of a bill on Data Protection back in 2010, when the first public consultation on the subject took place.
Due to his pioneering role and important participation in the process, he is considered one of the "fathers" of the LGPD (Brazilian General Data Protection Law).
However, more than his immeasurable contribution to the debates on digital rights that everyone knows, Danilo leaves behind dozens (and perhaps hundreds) of researchers who saw him as a mentor with the arduous task of doing justice to his legacy. Danilo spared no effort to lend a hand and open doors for the future generation, whether through his tireless presence in the public debate on the main legal frameworks relating to data protection in the country, or through long conversations about the research agenda of Cedis members.
Cedis is a research center, but above all, it is a "home" for diverse researchers who seek to understand law as an instrument of social transformation and who, thanks to Danilo and Laura, bring together those passionate about debates on technology. Under their leadership, there has never been a shortage of laughter during discussions on thorny issues or creative solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems.
Cedis lost more than a Director; we lost a mentor, a partner, and a great friend.
