Law
Law, Technology and Human Rights
Module code: M2602
Level 4
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar, Workshop
Assessment modes: Coursework, Portfolio
On this module, you’ll look at how law and human rights shape but also constrain the development and use of digital technologies. You’ll explore:
- what law is
- how legal rules are created and applied
- how legal systems respond to technological change.
You’ll examine how data and digital technologies affect fundamental rights such as privacy, freedom of expression and equality, and assess the extent to which legal frameworks protect those rights in practice.
Using real cases, you’ll develop the skills to:
- engage with legal concepts
- identify legal and human rights issues
- assess risks and conflicts
- form informed views about the governance of technology in contemporary society.
In doing so, the module builds practical legal literacy, critical analysis and strong communication skills that are increasingly valued in careers in:
- technology
- business
- public policy
- media
- creative industries
- the third sector.
Module learning outcomes
- Recognise the basic features and functions of law in society, and how law can both constrain and enable technological development
- Recognise and describe the varied legal environments in which digital technologies operate
- Recognise key human rights relevant to digital technologies, and explain how digital systems can challenge or support their protection
- Develop and communicate clear, well-reasoned arguments about the relationship between law, technology and human rights in both verbal and written work