Data Protection Legislation & Ethics

This course aims at studying the main regulatory implications of technology, as well as the EU ethical and legal framework applicable to information technologies, with a focus on the data-driven technologies. It will address issues such as ethical and legal governance, ethical and legal principles and requirements, risk assessment approaches to the design, development, deployment and use of data-driven technologies.

During the course, students will carry out different types of activities. A large part of the learning is acquired outside the classroom, through the autonomous study of the student. This study is complemented with the reading of hard-law and soft-law instruments and case-law, and specialised papers, as well as the preparation and writing of assignments and activities.

Class attendance is essential because there will be several theoretical sessions, necessary for developing the assignments and activities. In addition, a large part of these activities is performed in class hours, and consists of the participation in debates, solving questions related with the main ethical and legal issues that data-driven technologies may pose, and also giving oral presentations.

Course leader

Dr. Cristina Blasi, Associate Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)

Course aim

This course aims at studying the main regulatory implications of technology, as well as the EU ethical and legal framework applicable to information technologies, with a focus on the data-driven technologies. It will address issues such as ethical and legal governance, ethical and legal principles and requirements, risk assessment approaches to the design, development, deployment and use of data-driven technologies.

During the course, students will carry out different types of activities. A large part of the learning is acquired outside the classroom, through the autonomous study of the student. This study is complemented with the reading of hard-law and soft-law instruments and case-law, and specialised papers, as well as the preparation and writing of assignments and activities.

Class attendance is essential because there will be several theoretical sessions, necessary for developing the assignments and activities. In addition, a large part of these activities is performed in class hours, and consists of the participation in debates, solving questions related with the main ethical and legal issues that data-driven technologies may pose, and also giving oral presentations.

Credits info

6 EC
The evaluation will consist of 5 different activities:

1. Three assignments to be conducted and submitted in class (20% each) at the end of each week

2. Submission of all class activities (20%)

3. Attendance and participation in class (20%).

The dates for the 3 assignments are 28 June, 5 and 12 July 2024.

Students who for justifiable reasons have not been able to submit one of the three assignments on the specific date, may have the possibility to do an extra activity under the criteria indicated by the lecturer. The conditions of eligibility for this extra activity are strict and decided on a case-by-case basis.

A student who cheats or tries to cheat in an exam will be given a 0. A student who submits a paper or a practical exercise in which evidence of plagiarism can be identified will be given a 0 and will receive a warning.

The material and language of the course is English.

Fee info

EUR 910: Registration of international and national students (non-UAB students) before May 15th will get 20% discount.

Scholarships

No but there is 20% discount on the tuition fee if prospective students register before May 15th.