CYBERLAW - 2023/4
Module code: LAWM163
Module Overview
This module considers the legal, regulatory and commercial issues relating to the internet. It reflects on the ensuing impact on the digital economy, platforms and the wider business community plus the legal regulation thereof taking account of the unprecedented transformation in the digitisation of the law and the way business is conducted in the 21st century.
Module provider
Surrey Law School
Module Leader
ABBOTT Ryan (Law)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 92
Seminar Hours: 24
Guided Learning: 30
Captured Content: 4
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None.
Module content
Indicative content includes:
Big data business models and proposed legal and regulatory responses
Privacy and data governance
Regulation of speech on the internet – including harmful speech, defamation and intermediary liability issues
Introduction to Intellectual Property
Net Neutrality
Algorithmic discrimination
Cybersecurity and cybercrime
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 3500 word essay | 100 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
Students are assessed through one piece of coursework (100%).
The assessment will be in the form of a 3500 word essay related to normative, legal or policy themes.
Students will be asked to focus on a topic to explore in depth and support with research and relevant examples from practical commercial and legal settings.
Formative Assessment: one 1500 word written assignment
Individual and general feedback provided to students.
Module aims
- Understand new innovations in law and technology
- Appreciate and understand how the platform economy drives commerce, political and social developments and the problems this can cause
- Evaluate the social, legal and economic implications of new technologies and digital markets
- Evaluate and how the law can and cannot solve such problems
- Examine the moral and ethical issues related to the internet, platforms, digital economy, AI and algorithmic governance
- Understand how legal institutions and rules can help accountability and justice online while also appreciating the limitations of governmental actions and the need for softer forms of governance, norms and interventions
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Analyse the direct and indirect legal implications and consequences of the development of technologies | KCPT |
| 002 | Evaluate the variety of ways in which technology and the internet shape society and business | KC |
| 003 | Identify the challenges society grapples with due to new and emerging technologies | C |
| 004 | Acquire a demonstrated understanding contemporary debates of particular currency related to cyberlaw and the regulation of the internet | C |
| 005 | Demonstrate an understanding of basic legal research to both identify solutions to concrete problems in the subject area as well as critique the shortcomings of existing or proposed solutions | CT |
| 006 | Demonstrate critical and legal thinking to solve problems | PT |
| 007 | Explore proposals for the regulation and reform of relevant forms of behaviour online, whether commercial, public or private in nature | PT |
| 008 | Examine areas of doctrinal and political debate related to rules and theories of regulating online conduct and critically evaluate them both in terms of internal coherence and practical outcomes | PT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy follows a mix of didactic and problem-based learning.
Seminars adopt a flexible learning approach, with a combination of interactive seminars and group project work, delivered by academics with room for visiting members of industry where appropriate.
Basic legal knowledge and policy-oriented problem solving will be blended in with the substantive subject-specific seminars.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: LAWM163
Other information
Employability: The module prepares students for the 21st century workplace by equipping them with knowledge of the issues relating to the internet, the implications of new technologies and digital markets, and how the platform economy drives commerce, political and social developments. Transferrable are acquired, including problem-solving skills, independent research and the ability to select relevant examples from practical commercial and legal settings for use in the assessment.
Digital capabilities: Students will acquire an understanding of the ways in which technology and the internet shape society and business. Students will understand new innovations in law and technology, and how the platform economy drives commerce, political and social developments.
Global and Cultural Capabilities: This module develops students’ critical awareness of the moral and ethical issues related to the internet, platforms, digital economy, AI and algorithmic governance. Students will gain an understanding of how legal institutions and rules can help accountability and justice online while also appreciating the limitations of governmental actions and the need for softer forms of governance, norms and interventions. Students will engage with the challenges society grapples with due to new and emerging technologies
Resourcefulness and Resilience: Students are required to conduct independent research and reflect on their serf-development in preparation for teaching events and assessment.
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.