He works on information security, privacy and communications freedoms — or, as some have it, ‘cyber’ issues. Axel obtained his doctorate in 2015 with his book ‘Securing Private Communications’, was a 2014/15 Research Affiliate and a 2013/14 resident Research Fellow at Harvard University’s Berkman Center and CITP, Princeton University. He is a board member of the American-European Community Association (AECA) and Stichting Admiraal van Kinsbergenfonds. From 2009 until 2011, Axel was a core member of the team that re-started Dutch digital rights organization Bits of Freedom and revitalized European Digital Rights.