Undergraduate Course: Introduction to Law and Digital Technology (LAWS08146)
Course Outline
| School | School of Law |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | The burgeoning revolution of digital technologies and artificial intelligence raises unprecedented questions about their governance and the increasingly intricate relationship between law and technology. The course will explore how inter-sectioning legal systems around the world tackle this common challenge, illustrating commonalities and differences between the various approaches. |
| Course description |
Our lives are increasingly mediated by digital technologies: from the social media platforms we use to speak to each other (e.g., X, Instagram, TikTok) to the AI chatbots that act as our assistants in routine tasks (e.g., ChatGPT) to the food delivery apps we use to order takeout and groceries at the end of a long day (e.g., Deliveroo). Some of us also purchase digital assets as investments (e.g., ETH, DOGE, XRP) or as tokens for joining new communities (e.g., Bored Apes Yacht Club NFTs). Their pervasiveness, global reach, and seismic social impact raise unprecedented questions about how such digital technologies should be regulated and governed.
What areas of law are most impacted by the emergence of these technologies? How do different national, regional, and transnational legal systems intersect in regulating these technologies? Should there be ¿hard¿ regulation of these technologies (and the organisations that deploy them) or should a more light-touch approach be preferred, primarily deferring to self-governance? What are the modalities of regulation available to lawmakers confronted with the socio-economic challenges created by digital platforms, permissionless blockchain networks, and generative artificial intelligence? Should lawmakers be more concerned about the effects of these technologies or should they seek to alter their technical architecture? These are just some of the questions that we will explore in this course.
This course examines the challenges presented by certain digital technologies ¿ digital labour platforms, social media platforms, blockchain networks, and artificial intelligence ¿ and explore the major efforts to regulate and govern these technologies. Initially, we will focus on the main modalities and theories of regulating digital technologies, thereby demonstrating the distinct challenges said technologies pose to state sovereignty, territorial jurisdiction, and the rule of law. Students will thereby become familiar with critical concepts such as platform capitalism, data capitalism, and data colonialism, as well as legal strategies such as self-regulation, co-regulation, and regulation-by-design.
To provide an in-depth understanding of the emerging relations between digital technologies and the law at the international and regional levels;
To develop an in-depth understanding of the normative and social challenges of regulating technologies, and the different methods and techniques that make it possible (e.g. self-regulation, co-regulation, regulation by design, etc.)
To develop a critical understanding and analytical capability in respect of technological advancements and their impact on society.
In subsequent weeks, we will narrow our focus to specific digital technologies, discussing digital labour platforms, social media platforms, alternative digital platforms, blockchain networks, and artificial intelligence in turn. These technologies will be explained with the use of several examples and case studies drawn from across the globe, thereby allowing us to explore the diversity of regulatory and judicial responses across (for example) the UK, the European Union, the United States of America, and China. In turn, the role of large technology companies in shaping legislation and norms across several countries and domains will be discussed, so as to show the increasingly critical role that such companies have as actors in global law.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Spaces on this course are restricted to students on the Global Law LLB programme. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
78 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% essay (3500 words) |
| Feedback |
Students will have the opportunity to undertake a formative assessment at the end of week 6 and receive feedback.
Individual and cohort feedback will be given to the coursework essay |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Evaluate the different methods, modalities, theories, and techniques of regulating digital technologies (e.g., self-regulation, co-regulation, regulation by design, and others)
- Critically discuss how the rise of digital technologies challenge the traditional notions of state sovereignty, territorial jurisdiction, and rule of law
- Critically assess the opportunities and challenges of governing digital labour platforms, social media platforms, blockchain networks, and artificial intelligence at the global level
- Explain the interplay of national, regional, and transnational laws shape the regulation of digital labour platforms, social media platforms, blockchain networks, and artificial intelligence
- Critically discuss the distinct opportunities and legal challenges posed by the emergence of alternative digital labour platforms and social media platforms; and Describe how new and emerging technologies impact society and the economy.¿
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Reading List
| Full reading lists will be shared with the students in advance of each session. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Graduate attributes: Skills and abilities in Research and Enquiry:
The students will develop the ability to investigate the ongoing relevance of existing legal principles, the emergence of new ethical and regulatory frameworks, and discuss the merits and drawbacks of different regulatory approaches, in light of the emergence of new digital technologies.
Students will develop familiarity with regulatory approaches and ethical frameworks to assess the impact on, and compatibility with, human rights frameworks of a range of emerging digital technologies, both from a theoretical and practical perspective thanks to a number of practical case-studies discussed through the course.
Graduate Attributes: Skills and abilities in Personal and Intellectual Autonomy:
Students will be encouraged to develop autonomous views on a range of current and emerging issues where definite answers do not exist (yet?) and compare them with those of their peers in seminar discussions.
Reflect on his or her own learning, and to seek and make use of feedback.
Think critically about technology and its impact on and role in contemporary societies.
Graduate Attributes: Skills and abilities in Communication:
Through oral classroom discussions and a written summative assessment, students will have the opportunity to practise both forms of communication and, by being asked to discuss and elaborate on the merits of laws and ethical frameworks, both orally and in writing, students will develop analytical abilities as well as the ability to articulate legal reasoning.
Read and discuss legal and technology-related materials which are written in technical and complex language.
Graduate Attributes: Skills and abilities in Personal Effectiveness:
Work effectively with others in groups, contributing, understanding, and valuing diverse experiences, skills, and thinking of each class member.
Demonstrate an ability to organise and prioritise time and effort effectively in the performance of the student's work. |
| Keywords | Digital governance,IT law,democracy,e-governance,artificial intelligence,digital platforms |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Paolo Cavaliere
Tel: (0131 6)51 5137
Email: Paolo.Cavaliere@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Amy Purves
Tel:
Email: apurves2@ed.ac.uk |
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