Explore the intersection of Law, Ethics and Technology
Technologies are not just transforming the market; they are entering our emotions, desires, and decisions. The line between human and machine is becoming increasingly blurred, and the law needs to keep up with this revolution.
That is why I created The Law of The Future, an interdisciplinary space to explore the legal, ethical, and social impacts of disruptive technologies that are already shaping the present. From emotional data collected by wearables and mental health apps to the controversial AI companions that simulate affection and intimacy.
In addition to articles, I also publish a series of interviews with brilliant professionals from fields like neuroscience, psychoanalysis, healthcare, and technology, so we can reflect together on the limits and possibilities of an increasingly algorithmic society.
🚀 Let’s talk about the future?
Ana Catarina de Alencar
Trilingual Legal Expert (English, French, Portuguese) with 10+ years of experience in Technology Law, AI Governance, Privacy, Compliance, and Intellectual Property. Proven track record in negotiating complex IT, SaaS, and Commercial agreements. Strong expertise in Contract Law, GDPR, EU AI Act, and Digital Services Act for e-commerce platforms and tech-driven businesses. Published Author, Speaker, and Thought Leader on AI, Privacy, and Technology Regulation.
Published Books
Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Law: A Practical Guide to Understanding the New World. São Paulo: SaraivaJur Expressa, 2022. ISBN 9786553620339. Link
Artificial Intelligence and Law: The Definitive Guide. São Paulo: Turivius, 2020. Link
Published Articles in Specialized Media
AI Emotional Dependency and the Quiet Erosion of Democratic Life. Tech Policy Press, 2025. Link
Generative AIs and Copyright: What You Need to Know. Consultor Jurídico, 2023. Link
Why is Transparency the Key to AI Compliance under the EU AI Act? Open Ethics, 2025. Link
Are Subscription Platforms Redefining Life? A Critical Look at Black Mirror’s ‘Common People’. LinkedIn, 2025. Link
Conference Presentations
Generative AI and IP Rights: Strategies to Mitigate Legal Risk. Lecture given at the AI Growth Institute. YouTube
AI and Human Rights: How Algorithms May Affect Gender Equality for Future Generations? Sustainable AI Conference, 2021, Bonn. YouTube (Presentation starting at 1h01min)
Book Chapters
ALENCAR, Ana Catarina De. “Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Law and Legal Professions.” In: GELAIN, Itamar Luis (Ed.), 2025.
Manifesto for a Law of the Future
We are living at the dawn of a new era. Technology is no longer just a tool: it has become the invisible fabric that weaves together our decisions, emotions, relationships, and identities. At the frontier between science and imagination, neurocognitive technologies are advancing rapidly.
We are on the verge of witnessing profound transformations: brain-computer interfaces that capture thoughts before they are even verbalized, algorithms capable of detecting emotions through subtle changes in voice or eye movement, and AI companions that simulate affection and presence with almost unsettling precision.
Have you ever imagined an app that detects your sadness before you even notice it? Or headphones that, upon detecting signs of mental exhaustion, suggest you take a break, and also pause the digital world around you?
These examples, which once sounded like science fiction, are knocking at our door. Along with them comes algorithmic intimacy: emotional bonds formed not with people, but with systems capable of mimicking empathy.
Faced with all this, the law can no longer lag behind. As a futurist lawyer, my proposal is clear: the law must walk hand in hand with technology, anticipating risks, inspiring solutions, and enabling products and services that serve human beings. The law must protect,but also serve the future: a future where privacy and emotional freedom are preserved, even in the face of increasingly “intimate” machines.
Technology companies must build the “impossible”, but they also need to understand and balance long-term interests and impacts. What kind of humanity do we want to build alongside these new intelligences? And how will we regulate the countless use cases that are about to emerge?
Here at The Law of the Future, we talk about technology and law with responsibility, creativity, and courage. And in doing so, we help shape the future.
Ana Catarina de Alencar, lawyer of possible futures.