Data Governance and Digital Technologies

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Identify and critically evaluate key legal and policy issues in their social and economic contexts arising out of transnational law.
• Construct clear and coherent arguments as to how data protection law should apply to hypothetical scenarios, providing adequate support by reference to legal authorities.
• Explain similarities and differences between diverse regulatory approaches, outcomes, policies and theoretical foundations and form your own independent reasoned opinion on the desirability and viability of harmonisation of data protection laws.
• Identify, evaluate and apply key legal principles in critically assessing data protection legislations and deploy analytical and evaluative skills, in the form of legal advice, in relation to complex data processing situations.
• Independently research, interpret and analyse relevant legal sources, including, where appropriate, international treaties, legislation, and case law.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• How academic discussion 'translates' into the provision of legal advice in the field of data protection law.
• How data protection law seeks to balance the objectives of facilitating the movement and sharing of data, with the protection of privacy and data protection rights as well as other public interest objectives, and the challenges which inhere in this approach.
• The main legal rules and principles governing data protection, encompassing also a comparison between major national and supra-national legislation, case law and institutional arrangements with particular emphasis in the EU and UK.
• The risks that arise for personal data from the use of contemporary technologies and the practical and regulatory means available for addressing them in real-life scenarios.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Engage confidently in academic and professional communication with others, reporting on action clearly, autonomously and competently.
• Competently undertake research tasks with minimum guidance.
• Deploy legal arguments in writing and/or orally.
• Construct reasoned arguments based on premises drawn from various theoretical sources, demonstrating, also competence in problem solving in the conflict of laws.
• Be an independent and self-critical learner, managing your own requirements for continuing professional development.
• Use the full range of learning resources to analyse complex written texts and evaluate different types of arguments.

Proposed Seminar Outline

The list of topics to be covered in each seminar is putative, as the module leads will endeavour to ensure a dynamic selection of topics are covered during each academic year.

1. Privacy and data protection: Theories and analytical frameworks

2. Data protection law concepts

3. Data protection law principles, rights and obligations

4. Cross-border data transfers

5. Data protection law enforcement mechanisms

6. Personal data and consumer protection

7. Data protection & emerging technologies (I): Online platforms

8. Data protection & emerging technologies (II): Artificial Intelligence

9. Data protection & emerging technologies (III): Digital currencies

10. Beyond personal data: Towards holistic data governance

The module is taught by 10 two-hour weekly seminars.

The most important part of learning is students’ own independent study. This will, however, be closely guided, and firmly tied into the seminars and assessment. Most of the discussion in the same will revolve around the main legal decisions, and the arguments that have been advanced, and accepted or rejected in the cases. In seminars, students will have the opportunity to present arguments orally to a group of peers, develop arguments collaboratively in a group setting and defend their position under challenge. E-learning facilities are provided through Blackboard. Computer-based quizzes will be used alongside the seminars to help provide a direction for study.

Preparation for and participation seminars will develop:

Knowledge of the substantive principles and rules on data protection through directed reading as per distributed reading lists;

Preparation for seminars including preparing answers to set questions and identifying own questions to ask in the seminars;

Class discussion and presentation;

Ability to manage and access a diverse range of legal and political sources of law, including English and European Court of Justice case law and legislation;

Ability to critically evaluate those sources and to participate constructively in oral discussions in seminar settings concerning their content and application;

Preparing and writing formative coursework, with critical self-reflection on your own performance throughout this process;

Ability to assess reform proposals and comment critically on them;

Problem solving and analysis skills;

Time management and research skills.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Coursework

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: Feedback will be through a feedback sheet and orally in seminars.
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.