Gabriella Williams

Background

About Gabriella Williams

Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by crime and criminality — how it evolves alongside technological advancements and reshapes our understanding of harm. With society becoming increasingly digitized, crime is no longer bound by physical spaces; as Yar & Steinmetz (2019) highlight, the internet’s distinctive features have transformed how crime manifests in cyberspace. I’m currently a second-year Cybersecurity PhD student at Royal Holloway, where my research explores immersive sexual harms in virtual environments. My work focuses on the cultural, social, legal, and privacy and security implications of sexual harassment in immersive technologies, with a particular interest in how digital identity, embodiment, and neuro rights intersect with these emerging forms of harm. Through an interdisciplinary lens — blending cybersecurity, sociology, criminology, and ethics — I aim to uncover how immersive technologies challenge traditional concepts of crime and justice, while also advocating for stronger protections in virtual spaces. I’m also a Brilliant Club tutor, designing and delivering courses for KS4 students that encourage critical thinking about cybersecurity, digital identity, and virtual safety. At the heart of my work is a commitment to exploring the sociotechnical dynamics of harm in digital spaces — because understanding technology means understanding the people and systems behind it.