Course Description
The course critically examines the interaction and conflict between fundamental rights and digital technologies. While tech, and our relationship with it, is always evolving, fundamental rights tend to remain static. Or do they? Courts and regulators must resolve, not only conflict between technology and fundamental rights, but the conflict between competing rights.
Over the five weeks of the course, we will focus on several areas of interest: state surveillance; Ambient Computing and the Internet of Things; AdTech and algorithmic profiling; algorithmic discrimination; the challenges of regulating content and free expression in a digital world. This course will focus on both constitutional principles, fundamental and human rights, and the challenges facing digital technologies in today’s world.
The following topics are likely to be covered (but subject to change):
Introduction to Fundamental Rights as applied to digital technologies
Frameworks for the protection of digital rights
Ambient Computing and the Internet of Things: Fundamental Rights in the age of Big Data
Algorithmic Profiling and Targeted Advertising
State Surveillance: from observation to retention to manipulation
Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Rights
We will focus on the European Convention of Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and case law from the European Court of Human Rights and the Court Justice of the European Union, but will also draw on other rights regimes from around the world
Course Objectives
TThe course is designed to teach students how to research, understand, and deploy authority from a variety of legal regimes. Each topic is unique and chosen to enhance students’ learning experience by building on the multi-jurisdictional and any inter-disciplinary perspectives they have developed so far and develop skills in the art of academic research. The class is characterized by a legal and positivistic approach.
Academic skills developed include:
Academic skills developed include:
To explain clear and substantiated research results
To provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course
To actively participate in a discussion following the presentation
To be socio-communicative in collaborative situations
To provide and receive constructive criticism, and incorporate justified criticism by revising one’s own position
To adhere to agreed schedules and priorities.
Basic research skills:
To collect and select academic and literature using traditional and digital methods and techniques
To understand how to use legal authority and precedent properly.
To analyze and assess literature with critical eye as to its quality and reliability
To design under supervision a research plan of limited scope, and implement it using the methods and techniques that are appropriate within the discipline involved.
To formulate a substantiated conclusion
Course Requirement
Master Degree
Timetable
The timetable of this course will be available for students in Brightspace
Brightspace
More information on this course is offered in Brightspace
Attendance
Attendance of 80% of the scheduled course lectures is mandatory
Assessment Method
Group essay 30%
Group presentation 20%
Individual paper 50%
Contact information
Programme Coordinator
Ms Patricia Garcia Fernandez
Telephone number: 0031- 71 527 4228
E-mail: lawanddigitaltechnologies@law.leidenuniv.nl
Disclaimer: Currently these pages are being updated to reflect the courses for 2022 - 2023. Until these pages are fixed as per 1 September 2022 no rights can be claimed from the information which is currently contained within.
Should there be any future changes of the Covid 19 virus which may impinge our teaching and assessment, these could necessitate modification of the course descriptions after 1 September. This will only happen in the event of strict necessity and the interests of the students will be taken into account. Should there be a need for any change during the course, this will be informed to all students on a timely basis. Modifications after 1 September 2022 may only be done with the approval and consent of the Faculty Board and Programme Director.