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Internet, Crime and Online Harms

Module description

The internet has generally been hailed as a force for good, it also has raised several challenges for the law, especially in relation to combating illegal content (such as child sexual abuse & exploitation material), pornography, image-based abuse (so called ‘revenge porn’), computer integrity crimes. This module will examine the legal and regulatory issues with a particular focus on content crimes and certain forms of content regulation.

NB: No formal knowledge of IT is required for this class, but students should be interested in the digital world and issues relating to cyberspace. There is an expectation to undertake independent research going beyond the prescribed reading and actively contribute to seminar sessions. While, due to the nature of the topics covered, a background in law (law degree or relevant experience) would be advantageous, it is not mandatory and there are no pre-requisites to take this module.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to provide you with advanced knowledge and understanding of the issues, challenges, and complexities of regulating cyberspace in selected key areas. The module will examine various social, legal and non-legal factors that influence internet regulation and how the borderless nature of the internet can pose particular problems for effective regulation, especially for addressing content-crimes and certain types of online conduct. The module will encourage you to engage in critical thinking and provide the opportunity to undertake independent legal research to consolidate your knowledge and to form a good understanding of the complexities, merits, and demerits of regulation.

Independent research and reading are important elements of this module, which is particularly important in light of the constantly changing, dynamic nature of internet law. You will need to go beyond any prescribed basic reading provided and undertake your own research to enhance your knowledge and understanding and keep up to date with the fast changing developments on these topics. This method of learning will provide you with the opportunity to consolidate your research skills and autonomous learning, thereby enabling you to acquire valuable and transferable skills for your study as well as for your future careers.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate critical and comprehensive understanding of the complexities of regulating the internet with reference to historical and contemporary debates in the areas covered.
• 2. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the key issues, and legal and regulatory responses to certain crimes, content and conduct online.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Demonstrate a high level of ability to develop, apply and critically assess legal arguments, using a wide range of appropriate primary materials and advanced scholarship.
• 4. Develop critical and systematic understanding of the relationship between the various forms of regulation, for e.g. from statute through to norms.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Demonstrate the ability to undertake independent legal research in the context of internet law and effectively evaluate a substantial body of complex and at times contradicting legal and related resources.
• 6. Independently develop arguments and critically assess regulatory challenges with minimal guidance and communicate effectively in a manner appropriate to the level.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Introduction to internet law & regulation
• Regulatory principles
• Categories of online crimes - computer integrity crimes, unauthorised access offences, etc.
• Cyber speech, obscenity and censorship
• Illegal content – child sexual abuse material, etc.
• Child protection issues online, including self-generated imagery.
• Image based abuse,pseudo-imagery & deep-fakes.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

There is no single dedicated textbook appropriate for this module. Specific details of basic reading will be provided in advance of the seminars via the module site. As a guide, you could refer to the following textbooks.

• A Nair, The Regulation of Internet Pornography: Issues and Challenges (Routledge 2019)
• Andrew Murray, Information Technology Law: the Law and Society (OUP 2023)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• European Journal of Technology (formerly JILT) at http://ejlt.org/
• SCRIPT-ed, online journal in law and technology, available at http://script-ed.org/
• Computer Law and Security Report (CLSR) at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0267364
• BAILII (http://www.bailii.org) for all recent UK case law
• BILETA (www.bileta.ac.uk)
• The SCL (Society for Computers and Law) site at http://www.scl.org

• SSRN has many useful articles – see http://www.ssrn.com/         

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Students should consider consulting the following journals available via the library or online regularly:

• International Journal of Law and Information Technology  (IJLIT)
• International Review of Law, Computers and Technology

Key words search

Internet law, content crimes, content regulation, online harms.