Staff profile

Shuwan Cao is a PhD candidate in Durham Law School. She obtained her master’s degree in Commercial Law from University College Dublin in 2014 and a bachelor’s degree in Law from Beijing University of Chemical Technology in 2013, which laid a profound foundation of law knowledge for her and gave her a keen legal insight. After obtaining the Master of Laws degree from University College Dublin, she was employed as a legal counsel by one of China’s top 500 listed enterprises, which offers manufacturing services for clients. In the position of the main principal for TBEA Co., Ltd., she devoted herself wholly to assisting the company in establishing a contract risk control system. Within three years, this system successfully achieved the goal of predicting possible risks in the process of contract implementation and offering feasible solutions based on the collection and analysis of customers’ data. During this period, her interest in the legal protection of data gradually increased. Thus, in 2019, Shuwan studied as a graduate student at King’s College London and gained a deeper understanding of the basic theories regarding data protection and the context of international legal implementations.

Current Research

Biometric blockchain technology refers to using biometrics like a heartbeat or voice signals to meet the entry conditions of a blockchain without revealing one’s identity, which calls for human control to ensure the requirements are met for identification and authentication. Although biometric blockchain technology is at an embryonic stage, regulatory approaches to data protection should be considered, especially related to human rights. Human rights, and in particular, the right to a private life, have been greatly affected by new technologies. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the involvement of new technologies in human rights in the laws that already exist. Shuwan ’s research concentrates on the adequacy of data security regulations on blockchain technology with regard to the right to a private life, with a focus on the European Union and China. Her research provides a critical perspective on whether the existing regulations are justifiable and reasonable in protecting the right to a private life.

Research Groups

Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences

Durham Centre for Law and Philosophy

Centre for Chinese Law and Policy

Human Rights Centre

Research Interests

Human Rights

Privacy and Data Protection

Legal Philosophy

Supervised by

Professor Deryck Beyleveld

Professor William Lucy