VU Amsterdam awards honorary doctorate to Meredith Whittaker
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- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam awards an honorary doctorate to Meredith Whittaker for her advocacy of ethical AI, privacy, and digital rights.
- The doctorate is presented on November 19, 2026, during the university's 146th Dies Natalis ceremony, focusing on individual freedom in a changing world.
- Whittaker is president of the Signal Foundation, a non-profit providing a privacy-first messaging app with 70–100 million monthly active users, countering big tech power.
- She co-founded the AI Now Institute at New York University, researching social implications of artificial intelligence and tech industry influence.
- Whittaker gained public prominence as a key organizer of the 2018 Google Walkout, protesting sexual harassment and gender inequality in the workplace.
- The academic theme for 2026/2027 is 'Free Thinkers,' emphasizing independent, critical, and diverse perspectives in education and research.