The Global Network Initiative (GNI) is pleased to welcome Dr. Rafael Zanatta, Director of non-profit organization Data Privacy Brasil, to our Board of Directors as a non-voting representative of our civil society constituency. Zanatta was elected following a voting process for the Alternate Board Member seat, which became vacant with the appointment of Usama Khilji as GNI’s Vice Chair, and has assumed the position starting in January 2025.
“It is an honor to join the Global Network Initiative as the co-director of Data Privacy Brasil,” said Zanatta, acknowledging his appointment. “We believe in the democratic values of dialogue, mutual learning, and the co-construction of knowledge in digital rights. We look forward to contributing to the development of a fair informational ecosystem and fostering greater collaboration between the technology sector, investors, academics, and public interest organizations.”
Dr. Rafael Zanatta, Director, Data Privacy Brasil
In addition to his role leading Data Privacy Brasil, Zanatta is a postdoctoral researcher at the Law School of the University of São Paulo and holds a PhD from the university’s Institute of Energy and Environment. He has previously worked with Fundação Getulio Vargas, Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor, and InternetLab, and was one of the founders of the Brazilian Internet Rights Coalition (Coalizão Direitos na Rede) in 2016. Zanatta actively participated in the drafting of the General Data Protection Law in Brazil, and in 2020, he co-founded the Data Privacy Brasil Research Association, which has a seat at the Brazilian National Council of Privacy and Data Protection (Brazilian Data Protection Authority).
Upon the appointment, GNI’s Executive Director Jason Pielemeier said: “I am thrilled with Zanatta’s appointment to GNI’s Board. Data Privacy Brazil is a valued member of GNI and Zanatta brings tremendous expertise and experience to the Board, which will help us as we navigate the evolving legal, social, and political digital rights landscape.”