Matthias Fassl
[maˈtiːas ˈfasl̩] · he/him
I am an interdisciplinary HCI researcher working on security, privacy, and safety. My current work focuses on technology-mediated stalking and intimate-image-based abuse in end-to-end-encrypted messengers.
I hold a Dr.-Ing. from Saarland University and bring a background in computer engineering, cultural & social anthropology, privacy advocacy, and EU cybercrime policy.
Research
Online Safety & Stalking
How technology enables intimate partner surveillance and stalking — from stalkerware detection to AirTag-facilitated tracking — and how we can better protect at-risk people.
Intimate-Image-Based Abuse
Understanding and countering the non-consensual sharing of intimate images within end-to-end-encrypted messaging platforms, where moderation is architecturally constrained.
Authentication & Security UX
Why security features like authentication ceremonies and consent mechanisms fail users in practice — and how to design them to be genuinely usable rather than theatrical.
Methods in Usable Security
Developing and evaluating rigorous empirical methods — including qualitative analysis, autoethnography, and systematic reviews — for usable privacy and security research.
Publications
Awards
Press
Why messenger contacts are rarely verified Nov 2023
Expert commentary on the Boys Town case and the limits of Tor's anonymity guarantees Oct 2024
Contact
Matthias Fassl
Collaborateur Scientifique, EPFL
Room BC 154 (Bâtiment BC)
Station 14, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland