European IT Law by Design

Teacher(s)

Ducato Rossana; Strowel Alain;

Language

English

Main themes

The European IT Law by Design (EITLab) is a Jean Monnet course for introducing students to the foundations of European IT Law and reflecting on the relationship between law and technology. The course will explore the current legal challenges in the IT domain, by focusing on two relevant sectors at the centre of the EU policy agenda: data protection and artificial intelligence. The EITLab will be one of the first courses in Europe to integrate into didactics the innovative method of “Legal Design”, an interdisciplinary field that combines law, sociology, technological aspects and design.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
A	The goal of the course is to learn European IT Law fundamental notions through a practical and interdisciplinary approach. The course aims at providing students with the following knowledge and skills: The system of data protection in Europe; The policy issues under discussion in the debate about artificial intelligence regulation; The theoretical background and method of legal design; Legal research skills (e.g. how to search for legislative, doctrinal and jurisprudential data); Legal interpretative and problem-solving skills (correctly identify and frame the legal problems to solve; identify and interpret the legal provisions applicable to the same; evaluate the actual gaps of the legal framework; propose critical solutions both in a de lege lata and a de lege ferenda perspective); Project-planning skills; Team-work; Time-management skills; Communication and presentation skills; Understanding, implementation and application of a) qualitative research methodologies; b) requirements methods; c) methods for generating ideas; d) prototyping methods, e) usability evaluation methods.

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.

Content

The EITLab is conceived as an introductory course to European IT Law. It will combine frontal lessons with more interactive seminars (hold by experts in the field of legal design), and sessions of practical training. The core part of the course will be the development by the students of a project to respond to a legal problem raised by IT. It thus combines a problem-based learning with a project-based approach. The aim is to develop a plan, process, prototype or artefact that addresses a problem which has first to be adequately defined.
In particular, the Module will implement a Legal Design approach: during the course, students will be introduced to its methodology, learn its rationale and tools, develop the skills for organising and leading a project, and be able to apply the notions and know-how acquired to solve a concrete case on IT regulation.
To this end, attending students will have to collaboratively work on a specific project that will be presented during the course by each group (e.g. how to design effective privacy indicators or transparency labels for artificial intelligence tools).
Students will be guided by teachers and tutors during all the stages of development of their project, receiving timely suggestions and feedback on their work.

Evaluation methods

Since the course is project-based, course attendance is mandatory. Students are allowed to maximum two absences during the semester. For the organisational needs of the course, it is required to notify the teachers about the absence beforehand.
The final evaluation is determined on the basis of: a) Active participation in class; b) 1 individual written assignment during the course; c) the team final presentation of the project.

Other information

Study materials will be communicated at the beginning of the course or provided directly in class.
Website of the course: www.eitlab.eu

Faculty or entity

DRT