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Semester 2

International Human Rights in the Digital Era (LAWS10262)

Subject

Law

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

3

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Visiting students must have completed 3 Law courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. This course is only open to visiting students who are nominated to study with us on a Law exchange agreement. Exchange students outside of Law and study abroad students are not eligible to enrol on this course before teaching begins, with no exceptions, and spaces cannot be guaranteed to those students at any time. **Please see Additional Restrictions**

Course Summary

The course will explore the impact of digital technologies on human rights at the international level. Two main perspectives will be considered: on the one hand, the course will critical assess the growing role that the private sector and tech companies in particular (especially digital platforms) play as global regulators and standard-setters, and what are the consequences of such shift on the governance of fundamental rights. On the other hand, the course will discuss, at a more granular level, the impact of digital technologies on a selection of specific human rights such as the right to freedom of expression, privacy, welfare rights, etc.

Course Description

The course will explore how the increasing power of global technology companies and the widespread uptake of emerging technologies, such as for instance digital platforms and artificial intelligence, impact on the enjoyment and protection of human rights. As stressed by the Council of Europe, [n]ot only does [the emergence of digital technologies] require us to acquire a deeper understanding of their impact on the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, but it also entails careful consideration of questions concerning where responsibility should lie for their adverse consequences. The course thus aims to critically engage with such emerging questions while at the same time considering the possible opportunities and advantages offered by technological development to the cause of human rights. Alongside broader considerations, regarding the specificities of digital human rights and the impact of technology on the governance thereof, the course will look in detail at specific fundamental rights and their interplay with digital technologies. While regional (Council of Europe, EU) and international perspectives will be the main focus of the course, national models from a comparative perspective will be occasionally considered when relevant. The course aims to offer a wide yet detailed overview of the impact of technological development and the rise of digital platforms and automated technologies on human rights. Its main objectives are as follows: 1) To provide an in-depth understanding of the emerging relations between digital technologies and human rights at the international and European level; 2) To develop an in-depth understanding of the normative and social challenges of regulating technologies, and the different methods and techniques that make it possible (e.g. self-regulation, co-regulation, regulation by design, etc.); 3) To develop a critical understanding and analytical capability in respect of technological advancements and their impact on the society.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 100%, Coursework 0%, Practical Exam 0%

Additional Restrictions

**All 3rd year Law courses are ONLY open to visiting students nominated on an exchange agreement within the School of Law (including Erasmus students on a Law-specific exchange). Exchange students outside of Law, and independent study abroad students, are not eligible to enrol in these courses, with no exceptions.** Please note that 3rd year Law courses are high-demand, meaning that they have a very high number of students wishing to enrol in a very limited number of spaces. These enrolments are managed strictly by the CAHSS Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the Law School directly to request additional spaces. If there is sufficient space for other visiting students to enrol at the start of the semester (which cannot be guaranteed at all), visiting students must meet the pre-requisites listed above.

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