Data Protection: Law, Policy and Practice

In recent years, data protection has gained a high public profile and has become a dynamic and important area of legal practice. With the introduction of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the experience of its implementation since 2018, the legal landscape of data protection has been undergoing significant and far-reaching change. The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to this changing framework for data protection, combining perspectives from law, policy and practice, so as to give students a well-rounded understanding of this fast-moving field.
This module will explore the key concepts and current issues in data protection, including: the principles of data protection; the rights of data subjects, including the right to be forgotten; the accountability of data controllers and processors; the challenge of international data transfers; and the systems for enforcement and compliance. In addition to the course coordinators, students will benefit from guest lectures from leading experts in data protection law, policy and practice.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

• Understand the core principles of data protection law and how they apply in practice
• Develop an insight into data protection law in its theoretical, policy and practical contexts
• Identify, interpret and apply the key sources and primary materials
• engage in advanced research and analysis on current issues in data protection
• Critically analyse the legal and policy framework of data protection.

Assessment: