To examine the law relating to new digital technologies and the need for regulation particularly as it relates to social media platform, and in particular the implications of competition law and liability issues

This module will deal with the regulation and control of purely digital technologies such as search engines, social media sites and similar technologies. The module will distinguish between regulated digital technologies that operate in the open as distinct from hidden networks. It will examine the role of competition law in these digital technologies including monopoly or dominant position within the sector and the relevant market in a global context. It will apply the rules for defining the relevant market and determining market share. It will examine the legal requirement for abuse or harm in the context of the provision of services for free to the end user but the upstream commercialisation through paid advertising. The module will then examine the application of normative rules with respect to the activities of these technologies including defamation, the right to privacy and copyright breach under national laws including Ireland, the EU and the US. Finally it will conclude with the application of criminal or quasi criminal regulation of activities undertaken on these platforms including control of radicalisation, fake news, racism and hate crimes.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:demonstrate that they can identify the changing nature of digital technologies; demonstrate that they can explain the legal basis of different judicial and regulatory responses to regulating digital technologies; demonstrate that they can critically analyse the legal control of digital technologies across a range of provisions; demonstrate that they can critique the intersection between the freedom of the internet and the need to regulate digital technologies; demonstrate that they can discuss the role of the law in regulating digital technologies and the importance of such regulation in balancing the rights of individuals against societal and commercial needs, demonstrate that they can relate the significance of regulating digital technologies to the overall legal regulation of new technologies.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: demonstrate that they understand the role of digital technology regulation in modern society; demonstrate that they understand how regulating digital technologies impacts upon future new and emerging digital development; demonstrate that they can appreciate the need for clarity and transparency for individuals regarding protection of their interests when dealing with digital 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.