Regulation of Cyberspeech

We are living in the age of information and expanding potential channels for expression. Nowadays, internet allows everyone to be content creator and as a result freedom of expression is wider than ever. However, with this great potential comes great risk and the limits of freedom of expression are being tested in new ways. While up until recently there was reluctance to regulate the internet in general and social media in particular, the present trends are increasingly shifting towards more and more regulation. Thus, the aim of the module is to challenge students to think about whether and how the law can be shaped and improved for the benefit of (digital) society.  

The module will cover a number of topics in the four main subject areas: internet governance, cyber-speech, privacy in the Digital Society and selected (speech related) aspects of cyber-crime. In particular, the following issues will be discussed:

1.  Brief overview of the theory and regulation of freedom of expression in different jurisdictions

2.  Internet governance in general (who should regulate internet and to what extent)

3.  Characteristics of cyber-speech (anonymity, trending, sharing, permanent nature, transient nature)

4.  Types of problematic cyber-speech, including:

-     Online defamation
-     Breach of privacy (other than breach of data protection law
-     Hate speech
-     Grossly offensive speech
-    Disinformation
-     Cyber-bullying and harassment
-     Hacking and cyber-terrorism or social protest? (example of the actions of Anonymous)

Guest lectures will be delivered by experts from the industry (for example, Philip Lee law firm, Dublin and Google Ireland), providing practical insight into the topics covered.

Learning Outcomes:

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

• Identify and assess the main issues and challenges connected with online expression
• Identify and evaluate the international, EU and national regulatory structures applicable to cyberspeech
• Critically assess the effectiveness of existing regulatory solutions and identify and evaluate areas for improvement
• Appraise the importance of promoting online media literacy and identify and assess the regulatory and self-regulatory initiatives in this area
• Apply critical analysis and problem-solving skills to questions relating to regulation of cyber-speech.

Assessment:

• 95% essay (5,500 word limit) on a topic selected by a student from the range of topics discussed
• 5% Blackboard participation.

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