Ammara Yasin

About

Ammara Yasin is a PhD student at University College London, working at the intersection of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and Science & Technology Studies (STS). Her research combines technical analysis with critical sociopolitical inquiry, examining how embedded SIM cards (eSIMs) have emerged as a method to circumvent network shutdowns in adversarial contexts.

At the Weizenbaum-Institut, she is developing a Layered Taxonomy of Network Shutdown Circumvention Methods, evaluating their efficacy against state-level adversaries with a focus on surveillance-resistance and user privacy. Her work aligns with the institute’s themes of "Digital Infrastructures in Democracy" and "Technology, Power, and Domination," aiming to advancing the resilience of circumvention tools for populations in adversarial contexts.

With a background in Computer Science (First-Class BSc Hons, Lancaster) and Science and Technology Studies (MSc Distinction, UCL), Ammara’s interdisciplinary approach spans cybersecurity, computing and postcolonial technopolitics. Her MSc thesis - which was awarded the STS Best Dissertation Prize- analysed eSIMs as tools of resistance against digital colonialism. Her current PhD research extends this work through systematic reviews and empirical measurement, informed by collaborations like the HC2P Cybersecurity Residency (Canada).

Beyond research, Ammara is an active educator (PGTA for UCL’s Security & Privacy MSc) and am advocate for ethical and inclusive technology. She has contributed to policy reports on infrastructural resilience (HC2P), developed identity-mapping tools for prison rehabilitation (OICD), and explored AI’s sociopolitical impacts through ethnomusicology (University of Oxford). Her public engagements span presentations, workshops, and interdisciplinary collaborations, reflecting her commitment to translating technical research into societal impact.

Research Group: Digital Economy, Internet Ecosystem, and Internet Policy (September 2025)