LAW4550 · Internet law and regulation

Overview

This unit will introduce you to the legal issues raised by the internet. The unit will begin with a discussion of the various schools of thought about the application of law to the internet. It will also outline the history of communications legislation in Australia, as well as essential case law. You will be made familiar with the dual role of communications network users as both consumers and citizens and the economic and human rights law arguments pertinent to each category. This will prepare you for later comparative analysis of the case law and legislation of the United Kingdom, European Union, as well as US legislation and case law. The unit will include international or comparative law content from USA, UK and European Union. Topics may include the platform liability duty of care, the under-16 social media ban and regulatory role of the E-safety Commissioner, and network neutrality

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate high-level understanding in relation to a range of theories, challenges and legal mechanisms used to regulate the internet.
2. Critically analyse the distinct role of Internet law in a range of legal contexts and frameworks, as it affects the use of the internet in both Australian and international contexts.
3. Identify, research and synthesise information from a range of sources in order to make informed commentary on the legal and legislative mechanisms in place for regulating the internet in Australian and international contexts.
4. Formulate convincing evaluations and judgement on the recent expansion of Internet law and/or its interaction with other laws in both Australian and international contexts.
5. Work collaboratively to investigate and persuasively present findings on legal problems related to legal regulation of the internet.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.