Wil Chivers

I am a Research Associate based in the Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research, Data & Methods (WISERD) in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University. I am working across the WISERD Civil Society research programme, exploring the relationship between engagement with social media and civil society. I draw on my interests in developing innovative methodologies to examine the potential that social media research methods can bring to this field.

I spend a good deal of my time immersed in a trance-like state in network analysis of social media data. When I'm not doing this, I am reading around my favourite topics of privacy, surveillance, activism and digital society. Away from the office I enjoy cycling (when I'm going back down the hills) and tying myself to a rope and clambering up rock faces.

I completed my doctoral research in 2016. My PhD thesis explores the nature of contemporary governance by examining the changing landscape of digital surveillance and resistance. I have a background in criminology and sociology and prior to taking up my current position in WISERD, I worked on ESRC/EPSRC-funded research investigating business-related cybercrime in the UK.

I am a member of the Political Studies Association, the Surveillance Studies Network and the Open Rights Group.