
Joost Gerritsen: AI, Data & Privacy Lawyer.
Expert on AI, Data & Privacy
With more than 13 years of experience, lawyer Joost “Legal Beetle” Gerritsen is a household name. He helps organisations in government, education, healthcare and business navigate through the jungle of legislation on data & technology.
He does so in an accessible way – always with a smile.
In addition to being a lawyer, Joost is an established author, researcher and speaker. Always in the field of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics and big data.
He is the co-founder of the Association of AI Lawyers (VAI-A), CEO of Digibeetle and frequent guest at the PrivacyPod.
They rely on Joost
Since 2016, Joost has been committed to nice and loyal clients.
What do they think of Legal Beetle?




For years, Joost has provided legal advice and support for the information products of the PO and VO education sector organisations. This includes drafting contracts for services, model data processing agreements and answers to questions on the application of the GDPR. Joost thinks along with his client on a strategic level and closely follows the topicality of his field.
Maartje Meuwissen | Information products programme manager
Joost is an intelligent thinking lawyer who has supported Blonk for years with very high-quality and to the point legal advice on data, software and other business agreements. In doing so, he is very service-oriented and a very pleasant person to work with.
Hans Blonk | Managing Director
Our institute likes to make use of Joost’s legal analyses on emerging technological developments: he thinks about new legal issues raised by these technologies. Joost is quick, thorough and reliable, which is why we enjoy working with him.
Linda Kool | Theme coordinator on Digitalisation
Joost helps us provide advice on ICT law in an accessible way. A lot is happening around our digital signature solution in the areas of GDPR, privacy and security. Joost keeps us proactively informed of developments. Our collaboration is very pleasant.
Erik van Doorn | Marketing Manager
Joost Gerritsen is a pioneer in the discourse on data and AI legislation. He is actively involved in public debate, committed to education and focused on enabling compliance. Joost was essential to the Data School in developing GDPR-compliant research practices. His hands-on approach and competent advice enables us to balance privacy needs with research requirements.
Mirko Tobias Schäfer | Associate professor
Joost levert al jaren juridisch advies en ondersteuning voor de informatieproducten van de brancheorganisaties PO en VO. Denk hierbij aan het opstellen van dienstverleningscontracten, modelovereenkomsten voor gegevensverwerking en het beantwoorden van vragen over de toepassing van de GDPR. Joost denkt op strategisch niveau mee met zijn cliënt en volgt de actualiteit van zijn vakgebied op de voet.
Maartje Meuwissen | Information products programme manager
Joost/Legal Beetle always thinks along and comes up with appropriate solutions. Very nice working together and gives confidence that legal issues and contracts between our small company and larger parties are covered correctly.
Tom Smit | Head of Product Development and Sales
As a property manager, we want to handle personal data with extreme care. Especially those of our residents. Joost makes this possible. He helps us with GDPR contracts and gives privacy advice. He does this well; a client complimented us on the quality of his processing agreement!
Matthias van Klaveren | Operational manager
I got to know Joost as a very knowledgeable lawyer in the field of GDPR and privacy during my work at the PO-Raad. In my current position as sector director of Education, Quality and Innovation at SCOH, we also regularly encounter, for us, complex GDPR and privacy issues here. I can trust Joost to answer our questions, which often have to be answered under time pressure, quickly and with knowledge and expertise. The exploration of the issue is thorough and the answer is always in understandable language and from a practical point of view how to act as an organisation. This practical and hands-on approach really helps us move forward in doing our job well.
Jessica Teunissen | Sector director Education, Quality and Innovation
Sectors
Joost is a sector specialist.
Does your organisation belong to one of these sectors?
Then you have come to the right place.
Education/research
Data are part of modern education. Data about students and teaching staff. Research included. For example, based on social media.
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Healthcare
Medical records contain valuable insights. Data solidarity, Personal Health Train and Personal Health Environments. What do these terms mean?
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“I enjoy working for clients with an ethical mindset. In an accessible way, and always with a smile.” – Joost
My publications & presentations
Joost is an established author, with more than 25 publications to his credit.
The Council of Europe, the European Commission (JRC)
and UNESCO picked up his work.
He also enjoys presenting. On AI, data and ethics.
Services
When do you hire Legal Beetle?
What does Joost do?
Human Rights Impact Assessments (HRIA)
Sometimes an AI system or algorithm not only impacts someone’s personal data. But other human rights are also at stake, such as non-discrimination and freedom of expression. Joost fills in the legal side of assessments such as HRIA, IAMA and FRAIA.
Member of ethics committee
With his experience and a well-developed ethical compass, Joost is perfect for your committee overseeing your AI systems or organisation. Think ethics committees, advisory committees or oversight committees. Also nice: Joost is pleasant to deal with, polite and does his work from a cooperative attitude.
Legal-strategic policy
Drawing on his years of experience, Joost is happy to help you get the bigger picture. How does your organisation or constituency stay future-proof, amid chatbots, AI and robotics? Data altruism, open data, FAIR principles. What is your data vision?
Research
Joost provides legal research at an academic level. Perfect for organisations like governments that need a foundation for their vision. Or for organisations that want to know what is coming their way. Think of research on artificial intelligence (AI), robotics or nudging.
Data Protection Impact Assessments
With over 100 DPIAs conducted, Joost helps you comply with the GDPR requirements to prepare a data protection impact. A must for data controllers, useful for processors with a passion for privacy.
Data Protection By Design
Designing privacy-friendly software and AI systems. This is easier said than done. Fortunately, Joost helps you get started.
Data agreements and covenants
Good contracts are the basis of good collaborations. For example, for data cooperatives, research institutes or other data-intensive organisations. Joost arranges the legal foundation.
Procurement assistance
How does your procurement department know if a software provider or developer is virtuous? Avoid misses and engage Joost to assist your buyers.
Mapping legislation
The number of laws for the digital domain runs into the dozens. There is also a lot coming. Don’t be surprised and Joost will find out for you what the laws mean for your organisation. Think of the Data Act, AI Act, Data Governance Act or the Open Data Directive.
Privacy statements
Joost writes clear no-nonsense privacy statements. Has to be, because this information has to be clear to everyone.
Cookie statements
A cookie statement is about any technology you use to read computers, or place data on them. Necessary for websites, but also for connected vehicles and other Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications.
Licence agreements
Joost regulates your licensing housekeeping by drafting and managing proper licensing agreements. Perfect for organisations with proprietary IP rights such as database rights and large amounts of data.