Technology and Human Rights Law
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| LAWW4175 | Law | 4 | 15 | Spring UK |
- Code
- LAWW4175
- School
- Law
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 15
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the risks and harms that the digital environment and technologies pose to the effective exercise of human rights. The module enables students to critically reflect upon the potential, and limitations, of human rights law and reasoning to accommodate and address such risks and harms posed by technology. While doing so, students will engage with applying human rights-based and ethical approaches to technology.
Students will become well-conversed with identifying, interpreting and applying relevant international, EU and UK human rights law and policy. A variety of different civil and political rights (e.g. right to privacy, right to freedom of expression, right to peaceful assembly, right to be free from discrimination, right to an effective remedy) as well as social, economic and cultural rights (e.g., right to social security, right to science) will be discussed, as these rights have been engaged in national and international case law.
Students will also become familiarised with the design and use of certain technologies, such as predictive algorithms, generative AI, online platforms, cybersecurity standards, 5G, surveillance systems, and digital ID systems, and their respective impact on end-users.
Target Students
Only available to PGT students within the School of Law and exchange students hosted by the School of Law.
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: Coursework 15 pages.
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This module aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the risks and harms that the digital environment and technologies pose to the effective exercise of human rights. The module enables students to critically reflect upon the potential, and limitations, of human rights law and reasoning to accommodate and address such risks and harms posed by technology. While doing so, students will engage with applying human rights-based and ethical approaches to technology.More specifically, students will become well-conversed with identifying, interpreting and applying relevant human rights law, as provided under international human rights law, EU law, national legislative/regulatory initiatives, and international non-binding frameworks, such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. In this content, a variety of different civil and political rights (e.g. right to privacy, right to freedom of expression, right to peaceful assembly, right to be free from discrimination, right to an effective remedy) as well as social, economic and cultural rights (e.g., right to social security, right to science) will be discussed, as these rights have been engaged in national and international case law. Students will also become familiarised with the design and use of certain technologies, such as predictive algorithms, generative AI, online platforms, cybersecurity standards, 5G, surveillance systems, and digital ID systems, and their respective impact on end-users.The module uses the project-based and design thinking learning approaches enabling learners to (re)define problems and provide solution-based approaches from the perspective of different users of the technologies. These approaches not only resonate with applying a human rights-based approach to regulating digital technologies but also enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students will be able to apply their knowledge to the use of specific technologies and create human rights-based solutions to practical scenarios. To this end, students will argue and debate in the seminars by being assigned to role-playing, thereby being asked to advise and argue from different points of view (e.g., user of the technologies, software and hardware engineer designing a technology, policy/law-maker, moderator in an online platform, other third parties). By completing the module, students will also be able to formulate innovative and multi-disciplinary arguments drawing from law, policy and a basic understanding of the engineering and “technical” mindset.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
By completing this module, students will have acquired an in-depth understanding of the UK, European and international human rights law framework in regulating digital technologies, such as online platforms, cybersecurity standards, surveillance systems, generative AI, digital ID systems, and predictive algorithms.
Intellectual skills
By completing this module, students will be able to differentiate and critique the different approaches of national and international courts in interpreting and applying different human rights to the implementation of digital technologies as well as weigh in the effectiveness of alternative novel dispute settlement mechanisms.
Intellectual skills
By completing this module, students will be able to assess the potential and limitations of existing human rights law in regulating technology and analyse the need for new legislative and policy initiatives and/or value-based design of technology.
Professional skills
By completing this module, students will be able to develop legal research and writing skills.
Transferable skills
By completing this module, students will be able to apply their knowledge to the use of specific technologies and create human rights-based solutions to practical scenarios.
Transferable skills
By completing this module, students will be able to formulate innovative and multi-disciplinary arguments drawing from law, policy and a basic understanding of the engineering and “technical” mindset.