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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2013/2014 -
- ARCHIVE as at 1 September 2013 for reference only
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Law : Law

Postgraduate Course: Information: Control and Power (LAWS11180)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Law CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits20
Home subject areaLaw Other subject areaNone
Course website http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/teaching/online_distance_learning/llm_degrees/llm_in_law/modules/information_control_and_power Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThis module will investigate, through a range of legal disciplines and perspectives, the growing focus placed on, and value attached to, information by society and individuals; concerns as to its control and misuse; and the impact of this on individuals, business and government, particularly in the light of the opportunities and challenges of evolving and converging - technologies. The module will consider legal regimes relating to privacy, freedom of information and data protection; the extent to which present regulatory, co-regulatory and self-regulatory systems conform to expectations in respect of information privacy and access; the extent to which basic data, information and content is or should be protected by intellectual property or other information rights, particularly in the light of new means of creating, obtaining, recording, sharing and exploiting that information; human rights law and policy, with particular reference to (online) privacy, electronic surveillance, access to information and the conflict between freedom of expression and reputation and image rights; and the possible impact of different regulatory structures. A wide ranging international approach will be adopted, with contributions sought from students in respect of their own jurisdictions.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Please contact the distance learning team at escript.support@ed.ac.uk
Additional Costs Students should have regular and reliable access to the Internet.

Print consumables (paper and ink) would be recommended to provide hard copy of some on screen text and materials (e.g. articles).
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesPlease contact the distance learning team at escript.support@ed.ac.uk
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) Learn enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Web Timetable Web Timetable
Class Delivery Information This course is taught by distance learning.
Course Start Date 13/01/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 40, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 15, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 141 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
The aims of this module are to:
1. Explore the extent to which access to and use of information and data is controlled;
2. Consider the implications of this for privacy, commercial and international development, and freedom of expression;

and:

3. Assess whether academic and policy debate in this area is progressing in a sufficiently holistically manner, and whether there are opportunities for further interaction of disciplines.

By the end of this module the student should be able to:
1. Assess when rights or obligations arise under data protection and freedom of information legislation;
2. Evaluate when information should and should not be recorded, retained, re-used or shared;
3. Analyse the extent to which developments in information and privacy can impact upon individuals and business, and the appropriate balance between these interests;
4. Form a view on the roles of IP, privacy and data protection law, FOI and regulation, human rights and ethics in the field of information control, and the implications for private, public and corporate interests wherever situated;
5. Assess when, if ever, and to what extent control of information should be possible and identify situations where rights to create, share and access information may conflict with rights to privacy and personal autonomy.

Assessment Information
One essay of up to 4,000 words (60%); two individual assignments (worth 10% each); contribution to weekly online discussions throughout the semester (20%). Requirements for all module assessment will be outlined to students within the individual modules at the start of each semester.
Special Arrangements
This course is taught by distance learning.
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus 1.Introduction to Information Law
2.Regulation, co-regulation and self-regulation
3.Information privacy
4.Data protection
5.Freedom of information
6. Control of online content 1: copyright enforcement, blocking and filtering
7.Control of online content 2: user generated content and social media
8. Electronic surveillance 1 - Interception and encryption
9. Electronic surveillance 2 - Communications data
10.Reputation and image rights
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsInformation. Intellectual Property. Competition. Regulation. Surveillance. Copyright enforcement. So
Contacts
Course organiserMs Judith Rauhofer
Tel: (0131 6)50 2008
Email: Judith.Rauhofer@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Clare Polson
Tel: (0131 6)51 4411
Email: Clare.Polson@ed.ac.uk
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