The module provides a critical understanding of the law relating to the Internet (the Cyber). The module covers key debates around the role of law in regulating internet based technologies, looking at critical questions surrounding their governance, use and effects - like online harms, rights infringement and discriminatory practices.
It also looks at technological fundamentals of the Internet, the influence of social norms, values, and interests on the regulatory design of the Internet, and consequences of regulating the use of in technology in this cyberspace. A study of how internet based technologies impact on the legal order, and legal concepts like fairness, privacy, and the right to access the internet is undertaken.
Where appropriate, the module draws comparisons with legislation, case law, and policy from Europe, the North America, Africa, and other regions, to examine impact of new technologies on traditional principles of cyberlaw, and the implications of these technologies for law.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Explain and evaluate the ways in which internet based technologies impact on the legal order;
Evaluate different theoretical approaches to the regulation of the cyberspace (the Internet);
Critically analyse and evaluate research through informed debate on the existing law considering the legal, socio-legal and moral questions raised in different contexts;
Consider what their understanding of alternative approaches to regulating internet based technologies tells them about the nature and effectiveness of law’s discourse;
Consider what their understanding of the impact of new technologies on traditional principles of law tells them about the political, social and cultural implications of these technologies for law;
Identify and use primary and secondary source materials relevant to this field which deal with issues addressed in the module;
Make personal and reasoned judgements about the materials covered in the module.
