LFU:online

This course provides an overview of the foundations of EU information technology law.

• Students know selected EU legal rules that apply to the internet and the computational processing of data.
• They are aware of current developments in EU law and policy relating to digital technologies.
• They are able to draw on relevant information contained in legislation, policy instruments and academic literature.
• They are able to develop critical arguments on legal issues raised by the use of digital technologies and communicate them.

This course examines risks and opportunities of digital technologies from a legal perspective.

We will examine a selection of legal rules that apply to the internet and the computational processing of data. The analysis will include relevant legislation, court decisions and policy instruments. Moreover, we will identify gaps in the existing legal framework and reflect on potential regulatory reforms.

The focus of the course will be on the law of the European Union that regulates the use of digital technologies.

Indicative content

• Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence: What does the European Union do to ensure that Artificial Intelligence is developed and used in a way that complies with legal rules and ethical values? We will examine the EU Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI and the AI related legislation proposed by the new European Commission.
• E-Commerce and digital platforms: Which legal rules apply to digital platforms such as Uber, AirBnB or Youtube and to services offered online by businesses in the EU? Why does the 2000 eCommerce Directive need to be updated? What does the European Commission propose in its draft Digital Services Act?
• Data protection: Which rules have to be observed when personal data are processed? What does the (in)famous General Data Protection really say?
• Algorithmic decisions: To what extent does EU equality law protect us from algorithmic bias, i.e. from algorithms that discriminate on the basis of gender, age, ethnicity or sexual orientation? Are we protected from decisions that are based solely on automated processing of our data?
• Illegal and harmful online content: Which legal rules protect us from hate speech, fake news and terrorist propaganda on online platforms?
• Freedom of expression and information: How can freedom of expression and information be safeguarded online? What implications does political advertising that is based on Big Data analyses have for our fundamental right to receive information? Are social media platforms such as Facebook allowed to remove illegal or harmful content that their users have uploaded?

Short lectures combined with interactive exercises (individual, in pairs and in groups).

50/50% online and classroom teaching: Half of the course will take place virtually on OLAT (videos and online exercise sheets). For the other half, we will meet in lecture hall E.

Final exam at the end of the semester.

All readings will be provided via OLAT.

To participate in this course, you have to enrol via LFU-online.