To examine and analyse the theory behind privacy law, its legal foundation and EU and US legislative and regulatory frameworks which impose an obligation to protect personal data in specific situations, including both commercial and criminal.

This module will examine the right to privacy in both national and international law in the context of constitutional law and fundamental human rights. It will then address the common law approach to the protection of privacy through the law of tort and the remedies available under that system. The module will explain the difference between privacy and data protection through an analysis of the definition of personal data. It will then proceed to examine the emergence of statutory protection for personal data in the EU in the form of a directive on data protection and finally in the form of a regulation and the emergence of the EU as the world's most powerful regulatory agency in the sphere of data protection. The module will detail the governance of data from acquisition to use, protection and destruction not only at a theoretical and legislative level but also in terms of the practical application of these rules in everyday commercial settings. It will examine the detailed guidelines with respect to data protection including the issue of cross border transfer of personal data and international arrangements for equivalency. Finally, the module will look at global comparators, particularly China and the US in particular at the issue of future development and the impact of data governance for societal manipulation such as social credits.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:demonstrate that they understand the differing perspectives on privacy at national, regional and global level. Demonstrate that they know the legal protection of personal data in a global context. Demonstrate they can apply the distinction between privacy rights and personal data protection. Demonstrate an ability to analyse personal data frameworks and the practical process for implementing same. Demonstrate an understanding of the law regarding the international transfer of personal data. Demonstrate that they can evaluate the approaches on a comparative basis for the protection and governance of personal data.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:Demonstrate that they understand the role of human rights in the protection of privacy rights. Demonstrate why the legal provisions created a practical framework for personal data protection. Demonstrate why there is a need for continued development of personal data protection in the light of new technologies.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:N/A

The module is taught through blended learning predominantly online with a number of face to face seminars. Student will be assigned reading material, and will be expected to conduct independent research, prior to each seminar, where they will be required to discuss the relevant issues. The University of Limerick Graduate Attributes will be developed by: broadening students' knowledge and proactivity through encouraging independent and directed research; emphasising student's responsibility to organise their time in an efficient manner and to work to specific deadlines; enhancing students' creativity in how they approach independent research; promoting collaborative research by the students and requiring students to articulate their research findings in a group setting.