Cancelled Regulating Big Tech
Course content
Allowing for global and multidimensional information access and sharing, the Internet features an ecosystem that is global, multifaceted and complex. Major Internet firms often leverage advertising, data monetization, and platform-based services to generate revenue. Global digital corporations (e.g. Apple, Meta (formerly Facebook), Google, Microsoft, X (formerly Twitter) have played leading roles in shaping the transnational digital order, enabled by initially light regulation and robust liability protection in the US. However, these days the US companies are facing significant regulatory challenges posed by requirements of the EU law and other legal orders (such as China and Russia).
Governments and major Internet corporations play pivotal roles in governing Internet infrastructure, content, and value creation. The underlying interests and incentives can both converge and differ. Governments seek to regulate Internet infrastructure for national security, economic, and social objectives, often emphasizing law enforcement access and sovereignty. Conversely, Internet corporations often advocate for minimal regulation to foster innovation and the free flow of information. The normative outcome of the tug-of-war is a complex network of self-regulatory, international, regional and national rules. The regulatory environment is fluid and subject to continuous fragmentation, undermining the vision of the Internet as a global and universally accessible network. Over the last years, there have been increasing concerns about the human rights implications of practices by big tech corporations as well. The big tech companies have faced criticism for the use of their platforms by malign actors to interfere in democratic processes (e.g. Facebook Cambridge Analytica scandal), and spread an uncontrollable flow of disinformation and hate speech spurring violence and atrocity crimes in conflict areas (e.g. Myanmar, Ukraine). A number of significant self-governing initiatives have been undertaken by big tech corporations to ensure compliance with human rights, however, more regulation is needed in the years to come.
This course aims to provide an overview of the Internet governance models, by focusing on the role and regulatory potential of selected global Internet corporations. It navigates through a dynamic and intricate landscape of technology, economics, politics, and law in both international and regional (such as the EU) contexts. The major topics of the course will cover issues related to the legal challenges in regulating major big tech companies; threats to human rights posed by the practices of big tech corporations (e.g. online hate speech and disinformation), the use of AI; data protection and the right to privacy; EU regulation and non-EU regulations of big tech corporations.
Knowledge: Upon the completion of the course, students should be capable of:
Skills: The student should be able to:
Competences: The student should be capable of: |
The students are expected to read the mandatory readings and
participate actively in class.
The course will adopt the Socratic method and students will be
called upon to contribute on cases they have read for class.
To improve the learning process, the course uses both traditional
lecturing methods and other more interactive and research-based
techniques aimed at activating the students in class (including the
viewing of a film).
The goal is to educate students into thinking ciritcally and
independently, to engage with legal texts from several
jurisdictions and to think critically about global corporations.
The class room should be a learning environment in which the
students can restructure the knowledge previously acquired through
the readings into a richer and more critical knowledge. In
addition, to encourage the reflection on the ideas presented in
class, students will be asked to investigate the topic as it
relates to their own jurisdiction refer to relevant academic and
legal (Case-law) literature.
- Terms and policies of services provision by selected big tech companies
- Selected chapters of textbooks
- Selection of academic articles
- Excerpts from the EU legal sources such as the GDPR, Digital Service Act, Digital Markets Act,
- Judgments by the Court of Justice of the EU, relevant UN reports and case studies from the legal practice
- Podcasts
375 pages in total
It is illegal to share digital textbooks with each other without permission from the copyright holder.
Some knowledge of human rights law, international law.
English proficiency, critical thinking, ability and willigness to participate in class.
The course has changed its name from 'Regulating Internet Giants - Google, Amazon and Facebook'
- Students enrolled at Faculty of Law: Self Service at KUnet
- Students enrolled at other UCPH faculties or Danish universities, who holds a pre-approval from their Study Board: Credit student application form
- All other students or professionals: Single subject application form (tuition fee apply)
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Home assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Individual written assignment
- Aid
-
Read about the descriptions of the individual exam forms, including formal requirements, scope and deadlines in the exam catalogue
Read about practical exam conditions at KUnet
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Preparation
- 178,25
- Seminar
- 28
- English
- 206,25
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- JJUA55320U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
Full Degree Master choice
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Price
-
- Students enrolled at Faculty of Law or holding a pre-approval: No tuition fee
- Professionals: Please visit our website
- Schedulegroup
-
Please see timetable for teaching hours
- Studyboard
- Law
Contracting department
- Law
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Law
Course Coordinators
- Iryna Marchuk (13-6e777e736633726677686d7a70456f7a7733707a336970)
- Hin-Yan Liu (11-6b6c71307c6471316f6c78436d7875316e7831676e)
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Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende