San José Fellow Combines Study of Digital Governance with Legal Frameworks to Investigate Ethical Implications of Technology
From Oxford to San José, recent Stanford graduate Isabelle Anzabi applies her global learning experiences to local AI justice projects
Contributed by Kaitlyn Cui
Attending school at the heart of Silicon Valley, it may be unexpected that Isabelle Anzabi initially became interested in technology policy thousands of miles abroad. The recent Stanford graduate marked the Digital Era Governance tutorial she took her junior year spring at the University of Oxford as the start of her tech-focused law and policy journey.
“It was the first time I read so many research papers on the topic,” the political science major recalled, citing readings she did on “current digital tech issues, how current policy and governance systems bolster inequities, and how [tech inequity] gaps can be resolved.”
Ever since the Oxford tutorial, Anzabi fully took advantage of Stanford’s resources in the digital governance space. Her interests only expanded as classes gave her a firsthand look into how different people engaged with tech governance. A smaller class on human rights in the digitized world exposed Anzabi to numerous guest speakers from private and public industries. In winter of senior year, “AI for Legal Help” touched on her long-standing interests in the justice system.
“Less from a policy lens, the course was composed of many research practicums. We looked into how AI could increase access to justice for marginalized groups, and identified issues with existing frameworks, conducting audits to see which tools and systems were best for different legal problems.”
Despite coming from a social science background, Anzabi also tried her hand in Computer Science courses, citing peer influence as so many students at Stanford declare the major. “I realized that I desired an ethical, policy-based lens to addressing issues, rather than building the products themselves.” she said. Today, Anzabi is especially interested in the ethical and legal implications behind emerging technologies within the justice system.
Joining the Paragon San José Government team as a Spring Fellow, Anzabi contributed invaluable perspective as a local resident to a city employee policy manual and educational presentation titled “GenAI, Mass-Media, and Deepfake Policy Enforcement: Protecting Government Communication from AI.” The manual included different frameworks, public education campaign ideas, and step-by-step guidelines for tracking and mitigating instances of AI-powered misinformation to ensure San José is prepared even before a potential threat arises.
Highlights of her time at Paragon included directly communicating with government partners, hearing city priorities firsthand, and learning how to bolster internal institutional capacity. Anzabi mentioned collaboration as the most memorable aspect of her Paragon Fellowship experience, citing “a supportive community driven toward creating solutions.” Beyond her team, Anzabi also appreciated how the project groups interacted with each other and hearing the diverse projects other groups worked on.
Beyond the Paragon Policy Fellowship, Anzabi is also working with the Stanford Center for Racial Justice this summer to investigate how AI in justice and public safety systems have disparate racial impacts. True to the global roots of her tech policy interests, Anzabi is also interning with the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law, an organization that develops EU digital tech policy such as the AI Act with human rights frameworks.
“The [Paragon] experience has been immensely fulfilling and reaffirmed my commitment to responsible technological advancement.” Anzabi reflects, “I have enjoyed sharing this experience with a community of students and mentors who are all interested in developing policy solutions to the rapidly increasing capabilities of emerging technology.
⭐ Paragon Fun Fact (PFF): Researching tech law and policy is not the only hat Isabelle wears! Isabelle is known as the comedian of her friend group, and spends her free time dabbling in various artistic activities.