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IS41860

Academic Year 2026/2027

New Tech & Regulation (IS41860)

Subject:
Information Studies
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Information & Comms Studies
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Elizabeth Farries
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This course is aimed at those interested in media law and policy. The law in various guises intersects, governs, shapes and restricts your daily engagement with media. The practical application of the law in these different industries requires balancing the rights and interests that will be explored through the delivery of this course, from protecting the rights to privacy and a good name to recognising the importance of ensuring freedom of expression in a democratic society.

This course provides insights into relevant legal principles as they pertain to both traditional and new media. Knowledge of traditional media regulation is essential to have a holistic understanding of law and policy as it pertains to digital or new media. Thinking about how existing laws and policies might (or might not) apply to new forms of technology and media allows us to unravel the role of both law and media in society.

New technologies create enormous challenges in terms of monitoring and enforcement, especially in the case of digital technology: from competition policy to copyright enforcement, data protection and the regulation of AI. This module aims to introduce students to some of the contemporary landmark regulations that concern digital technologies whilst providing a historical and social context for these developments.

The module will cover some of the landmark pieces of legislation such as the General Data Protection Regulation (EU), the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill (OSMR, Ireland), UK Online Safety Bill, Digital Services Act (EU), European Media Freedom Act (EU), Digital Millennium Copyright Act, (US) and the EU AI Act.

There is no expectation of any knowledge of law or the operation of legal systems. The readings, course approach and materials take this into account.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the legal principles relevant to media technologies (e.g copyright, defamation, data protection).
2. Critically analyse the regulation of all forms of media including print, broadcast and social media.
3. Examine landmark pieces of legislation shaping internet law (such as GDPR, Digital Services Act, Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Online Safety Bills (Ireland and UK), EU Artificial Intelligence Act
4. Critically examine digital and emerging technology regulation (from the standpoint of implications for rights such as privacy and freedom of expression, equality, children's rights)
5. Show knowledge of the online safety topics and legislation concerning protecting minors online

Indicative Module Content:

This module draws on interdisciplinary scholarship from fields including law, communication and media studies, sociology, internet studies, science and technology studies (STS), and internet governance, among others. Lectures will situate key regulatory frameworks within the historical, social, political and economic contexts in which they emerged, while providing a critical examination of their development, implementation and impact. Practical examples of contemporary and ongoing legal cases will be highlighted weekly to illustrate how regulatory debates, legal controversies and their wider societal consequences unfold in practice.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

90
Lectures

24
Total

114

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Approaches to Teaching and Learning

● Lecture
● In-class discussion
● In-class presentation
● Critical reading and writing
● Desk research

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Individual Project: To be described at the beginnning of term Week 14 Graded Yes
70
 Yes
Participation in Learning Activities: To be described at the beginning of term Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded Yes
30
 Yes

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 11:00 - 12:50
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