What is the Internet doing to me?

Why should I take this Trinity Elective?

You use the Internet every day—but do you really understand how it works? From social media to online banking, streaming to search engines, your actions generate data that companies collect, analyse, and often monetize. While these services offer convenience, they also raise important questions about privacy, security, and control. Who owns your data? How is it used? And what can you do to protect yourself?

This Trinity Elective will give you the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world more confidently. You’ll learn how the Internet operates, how companies track and use your data, and how you can take control of your online presence. If you want to make informed decisions about your digital footprint and privacy, this module is for you.

What will I learn?

• The fundamentals of how the Internet works—no prior technical knowledge required.
• How to make informed decisions about your online interactions and data privacy.
• How you may be affected by misinformation and disinformation received via Internet services.
• The impact of corporate and governmental structures on Internet services and user control.
• How to investigate and use technologies to enhance security and privacy.
• Effective communication and collaboration strategies in the digital world.

What will I do?

• Attend lectures covering the technical, legal, and ethical dimensions of the Internet.
• Engage in debates with fellow students, Trinity experts, and external specialists.
• Participate in hands-on “hackathon” labs to explore key technologies and security concepts.
• Conduct a group research project on the ethics, privacy and security risks of a common Internet service.
• Exercise your rights under GDPR, request your personal data from an online service, and analyse what they know about you.

How will this be delivered?

This lecture-based module will introduce you to both the high-level ethical debates surrounding Internet governance and the technical mechanisms that make it all function. You'll move between real-world case studies, hands-on labs, and personal investigations, giving you both a conceptual and practical understanding of online privacy and security.

• 18 hours of lectures covering core topics in Internet technology, security, and governance.
• 2 x 2-hour hands-on labs exploring Internet security tools and vulnerabilities.
• Individual and group research projects analysing real-world Internet services and their impact.
• Discussions and debates on legal, ethical, and privacy issues surrounding the modern Internet.

How will this be assessed?

• 25% – Group project: Analyse the ethics, security and privacy aspects of an Internet service.
• 25% – Individual research project: Investigate how a product or service tracks your actions.
• 25% – GDPR-based project: Submit a data access or right-to-be-forgotten request and report on your findings.
• 25% – Attendance.

Who can take this Trinity Elective?

This elective is open to any eligible student, regardless of technical background. No prior programming or cybersecurity knowledge is required—just curiosity about how the Internet works and how to take control of your digital presence.

* Please note that assessment methods, assessment weightings and amount of contact hours are subject to change by the module coordinator. You can confirm all assessment details and expected contact hours with the module coordinator upon starting the elective.