OVERVIEW

The course provides an advanced introduction to legal informatics and digital law, with particular attention to the platform economy and the European regulation of digital infrastructures and markets. After clarifying basic concepts related to data, algorithms, and platform architectures, the programme analyses the main risks and forms of power associated with the digital environment, including disinformation, hate speech, manipulation, and surveillance, as well as the corresponding regulatory tools, such as the GDPR, the Data Governance Act, the Data Act, the Digital Services Act/Digital Markets Act, and the AI Act. The final part introduces quantitative methods for the empirical analysis of law and the impact assessment of policies, including statistics, machine learning, and causal inference, and includes moot court simulations.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The programme aims to develop (i) essential basic knowledge of Information Technologies applied to legal research and (ii) an operational understanding of the main regulatory frameworks governing the digital environment, while integrating an introduction to quantitative methods useful for the empirical analysis and evaluation of legal phenomena.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

In particular, the course will enable students to:

1. Appropriately describe the main relationships between law, data, algorithms, and platform architectures.
2. Frame online freedom of expression, platform liability, and the rationale underlying the European regulation of digital services and markets (DSA/DMA).
3. Identify and properly assess fake news, hate speech, online populism, and commercial speech, with particular reference to influencer marketing and dynamics of information manipulation.

PREREQUISITES

There are no prerequisites for attending the course.

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes lectures, discussion of cases and digital materials, and guided exercises based on examples and datasets, aimed at strengthening quantitative literacy and the critical reading of empirical evidence. The final part of the course includes moot court simulations carried out in teamwork. Students who actively participate in the moot court activity will be awarded 1 extra point on their exam grade.

“Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities or other educational needs and having complied with Unige procedures (described here) who need compensatory measures to prepare the exams or during the exams are invited to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods that, in accordance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning styles. For requesting Unige services for students with disabilities and other information, please visit https://giurisprudenza.unige.it/serv_disabili. For further information, please visit https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa and contact the Department's disability liaison officer (isa.fanlo@unige.it).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course includes lectures, discussion of cases and digital materials, and guided exercises based on examples and datasets, aimed at strengthening quantitative literacy and the critical reading of empirical evidence. The final part of the course includes moot court simulations carried out in teamwork. Students who actively participate in the moot court activity will be awarded 1 extra point on their exam grade.

PROGRAMME/CONTENT

• Platform economy; surveillance capitalism.
• Hate speech; fake news; online populism.
• Commercial speech and influencer marketing.
• Data protection (GDPR) and data governance (Data Governance Act; Data Act).
• Platform regulation: Digital Services Act; Digital Markets Act.
• Artificial intelligence and algorithmic regulation (AI Regulation; AI Act).
• Blockchain, smart contracts, fintech.
• Platforms and sector-specific regulation, such as Airbnb, and smart cities.
• Statistics, machine learning, and causal inference for the empirical analysis of law and the impact assessment of policies.
• Moot courts.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. BARBERIS M. (2021). Ecology of the Net. How to Use the Internet and Live Happily. MILAN: Mimesis Editore.
2. SARTOR G. (2016). Course in Legal Informatics. Legal Informatics and Information Technologies, Third edition. TURIN: Giappichelli.
3. IEZZI, D.F. (2024). From Data to Knowledge. Statistics for Decision-Making. ROME: Carocci Editore. 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ALESSIO SARDO (President)

YUNEISY BOADA PEREZ

ALLEGRA MARIA MIMMA GRILLO (Substitute)

ANGELIKA KACZMAREK (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

from 9 February to 8 March

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written test

Exam schedule