Overview
This course examines the legal, ethical, regulatory, and operational implications of digital technologies and data-driven society. It develops comparative understanding of privacy and cybersecurity frameworks across national, regional, and international contexts, including personal data governance, consent, data minimization, cross-border transfers, surveillance, data breaches, cybersecurity duties, incident response, cybercrime, electronic evidence, digital signatures, online contracting, platform liability, and content moderation.
Students evaluate artificial intelligence, algorithmic bias, automated decision-making, digital intellectual property, blockchain, smart contracts, legal research technology, e-discovery, and the professional responsibilities of lawyers using technology. Applied analysis includes privacy notices, data-processing agreements, breach scenarios, technology contracts, regulatory guidance, and cases involving online conduct. The course emphasizes practical risk identification, privacy-by-design, cybersecurity compliance, preservation and assessment of digital evidence, and communication with technical and nontechnical audiences.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze comparative privacy, cybersecurity, cybercrime, and technology-regulation frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.
- Evaluate legal and operational risks arising from data collection, processing, storage, transfer, surveillance, security incidents, and automated decision-making.
- Advise organizations on privacy-by-design, data governance, cybersecurity compliance, incident response, and regulatory engagement.
- Construct privacy impact assessments, data-processing analyses, technology-use policies, and practical compliance recommendations.
- Preserve, authenticate, and assess electronic evidence in accordance with applicable legal, procedural, and professional requirements.
- Evaluate legal issues involving online contracting, electronic signatures, platform liability, content moderation, digital intellectual property, blockchain, and smart contracts.
- Assess ethical risks associated with artificial intelligence, algorithmic bias, legal research technology, e-discovery, and technology-enabled legal practice.
- Communicate legal and operational recommendations clearly to technical specialists, organizational decision-makers, regulators, and general audiences.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Privacy impact assessment | 20.00% |
| Assignment | Breach-response memo | 20.00% |
| Deliverable | Technology-use policy | 15.00% |
| Assignment | AI governance analysis | 15.00% |
| Test | Practical test | 10.00% |
| Exam | Final examination | 20.00% |
Prerequisites
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
