LAW 795SEM - Advanced Topics in Law and Technology

More and more of our everyday lives, from shopping to education to our relationships with others, now take place online. In the offline world, law routinely regulates these activities, but should the rules of the game change in more virtual settings? This seminar will tackle this broad question from a variety of perspectives, combining readings in psychology, communications, and marketing with study of legal texts. This semester the seminar will pay particular attention to how privacy law, intellectual property law, and contract law have responded (or failed to respond) to the challenges of new technologies. For example, should the government restrict what kind of data advertisers can collect and use from our online activities? Should it make a difference when a website?s terms of service state that the user forfeits any rights to personal information disclosed online? What is the appropriate governmental response to the problem of online “trolls” and “cyberbullying”? Should a child?s expression in social media made off school grounds potentially subject her to in-school punishment? Grades will be determined on the basis of class participation and the completion of a substantial research paper. In the paper, students will be encouraged to investigate a new technology, its potential social effects, and discuss what legal response (if any) is appropriate.

Credits: 3