Insegnamento a.a. 2021-2022

50248 - EMERGING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND THE LAW

Department of Law

Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 31
CLMG (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - M (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - IM (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - MM (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - AFC (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - CLELI (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - ACME (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - DES-ESS (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - EMIT (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - GIO (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - DSBA (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - PPA (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04) - FIN (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  IUS/04)
Course Director:
MARIA LILLA' MONTAGNANI

Classes: 31 (II sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: MARIA LILLA' MONTAGNANI


Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

Emerging digital technologies (EDTs) e.g. Internet of Things and of Services (IoT/IoS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), advanced robotics and autonomous vehicles (AV), can lead to fundamental discoveries, opening up new possibilities, and significantly improving the lives of many – in particular by bringing major benefits to our society and economy through better healthcare, more efficient public administration, stronger democratic processes, safer transport, a more competitive industry and sustainable farming. Machine-learning, for example, can be used to make more accurate and faster medical diagnoses and surgeries, carry out dangerous and repetitive tasks, and free up valuable time. This scenario has its drawbacks. In particular, it raises challenges for regulators and policymakers that have to face the ontological difficulty of foreseeing and possibly controlling the impact of EDTs on economy and society, to make sure that they are human-centric, ethical, explainable, sustainable and respectful of fundamental rights and values. Against this background, the mission of the course is to provide an understanding of the legal implications of EDTs and how the current legal framework is facing the challenges that they raise.

CONTENT SUMMARY

The course focuses on specific topics related to the EDTs, at EU level and offering, when possible, a comparison with the North-American developments.

It is structured in 4 main modules:

  • EDTs, features and challenges
  • Liability issues
  • Smart contracts
  • Data-driven technologies and data law

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Understand the challenges raises by the use of EDTs to the current legal framework
  • Discuss the solutions currently adopted to deal with EDTs at EU level as well as, in relation to specific technologies, also in the US
  • Identify the relationship between the solutions under study and the European policies

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Apply the current legal framework to scenarios of liability for damages caused by the use of EDTs, in particular AI
  • Evaluate the validity of smart contracts
  • Choose the valid data law framework for EDTs
  • Interact in a constructive way and think critically

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Case studies /Incidents (traditional, online)

DETAILS


Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
     x
  • Active class participation (virtual, attendance)
 x    

ATTENDING STUDENTS

 

With the purpose of measuring the acquisition of the above-mentioned learning outcomes, the students’ assessment is based on a final written exam:

  1. Written exam (100% of the final grade), consisting of 2 open questions aimed to assess students’ ability to illustrate the solutions currently adopted to deal with EDTs at EU level in relation to the policy goals pursued. The exam will also include a short scenario case, aimed to assess students’ ability to apply the current framework to possible cases raised by EDTs.
  2. Extra: in addition to the final exam mark and on top of it, students can be awarded up to 4 extra points for their active participation in small teaching groups (i.e. tutorials).

NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

There is no difference in the assessment between attending and non-attending students. Students’ assessment will be based on the written exam aimed to assess students’ understanding and ability to illustrate the solutions currently adopted to deal with EDTs at EU level as well as, in relation to specific technologies, in the US.


Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

Last change 22/07/2022 11:09