OVERVIEW

The course is devoted to the relationship between law and new technologies. In particular, the course analyzes the effects that information technologies have on the enjoyment of fundamental rights and on power relations within the political community.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The primary aim of the course is to give the student a critical awareness of the relationship between new technologies and fundamental rights. To this end, at the end of the course the student: will be familiar with the main categories relating to fundamental rights; will have understood how new technologies affect the enjoyment of the main fundamental rights; will be able to identify the main risks that technological development poses for the equal enjoyment of fundamental rights by citizens; will be able to critically analyse the power relations produced by new media and technologies

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The primary purpose of the course is to provide students with a critical awareness of the relationship between new technologies and fundamental rights.

To this end, at the end of the course students:

- will have familiarized themselves with the main categories in the field of fundamental rights; in particular, they will know the distinction between human rights, constitutional rights, inviolable rights, and fundamental rights; at the same time, they will know the three generations of rights and the purposes typically pursued by each of them; finally, they will know the distinction between positive and negative freedoms.

- will have understood how new technologies affect the enjoyment of fundamental rights. In particular, they will have understood that technological tools create new ways of enjoying classic freedoms and, at the same time, pose risks to the equal enjoyment of fundamental freedoms by all citizens;

- will be able to identify the main risks arising from technological development for the enjoyment of the main rights enshrined in constitutional texts. In particular, they will be able to identify the main risks that arise for the freedoms of the private sphere; those that arise for the freedoms of the public sphere and for political rights; those that arise for labor rights;

- will be able to evaluate critically and autonomously the relations of power that are created by new technologies and to compare the dangers and threats posed by new and emerging private powers with those traditionally posed by political power.

PREREQUISITES

During the course reference will be made to basic notions of constitutional law. Therefore, for a full understanding of the topics covered, it is advisable to attend a comparative constitutional law course.

TEACHING METHODS

The class consists of 36 hours of lectures.

For each lesson, teaching materials will be previously uploaded on the aulaweb platform.

The frontal teaching is aimed at providing basic knowledge and at illustrating the main problematic issues that concern the addressed topics. The moments of discussion are instead aimed at stimulating critical learning of students who are asked to develop their own understanding of the individual issues discussed.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Freedom and rights: some fundamental theoretical issues.

The user in front of the algorithmic structure of the Internet.

The threats to privacy and freedom of the private sphere.

The right to be forgotten.

Internet, social networking services and freedom of expression.

Democracy, political participation, new technologies and fundamental rights.

Economic freedoms, labor rights and computer platforms.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Attending students (who have attended at least 75% of the lessons): learning materials (slides, lecture notes, legal references, jurisprudence and in-depth reading) uploaded on Aulaweb.

Non-attending students: learning materials (slides, lecture notes, legal references, jurisprudence and in-depth reading) uploaded on Aulaweb in a special folder.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Classes will be held during the first semester of the academic year 2025/2026 (according to the calendar and timetable available on EasyAcademy-Unige).

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

For attending and non-attending students, the final exam is in written form.

During the exam, students will be asked to answer a number of questions designed to test their acquired knowledge and ability to navigate the subject matter.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The three parts of the written exam aim to test three different types of student abilities.

The written exam is designed to assess knowledge of the topics covered in the course.

The greater or lesser number of questions, their greater or lesser specificity, and the greater or lesser duration of the examination are methods for ascertaining as accurately as possible – within the limited time available – the quantity and quality of the knowledge and skills acquired.

The correctness and accuracy of the presentation, the appropriate use of legal terminology and, in particular, the ability to think critically about the topics studied will also be assessment criteria.

The level of learning will be assessed with a final mark out of 30.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students are invited to register for the course on Aulaweb.