Coordination

Margarida Lima Rego e Vera Lúcia Raposo

Aim of the course

This postgraduate course explores the intersections between Law and the Information Society, a concept that originated in the first half of the 20th century and which aims to characterize contemporary societies from the perspective of the ease of access, use, creation, distribution, commercialization, manipulation, subversion and integration of information, above all thanks to the technological advances of recent decades. The course aims to analyze the phenomenon in its various aspects, addressing both the emerging opportunities and the complex challenges that characterize this dynamic field of life in society.

Target audience

The course has a very broad target audience, aimed at jurists but also at non-lawyers who are confronted in their day-to-day lives with some of the aspects covered in it, being relevant to the legal profession, the judiciary, solicitors, companies, the civil service, regulatory or supervisory bodies, the third sector, and, finally, also appealing to those who are simply curious and want to learn more about a rapidly developing area.

• Minimum of 25 participants | Maximum of 50 participants

Teaching Method

E-learning. The sessions will not be recorded.

Language

Portuguese

Duration

50 contact hours (synchronous sessions), plus work on the final written assignment and participation in the discussion forums available on Moodle.

Dates

6 February to 27 May 2025

Schedule

Thursdays, 6 to 8pm

ECTS

12 ECTS

Methodology

Theoretical-practical sessions, with the resolution of practical exercises – synchronous sessions. Autonomous work and discussion forums – asynchronous sessions.

The course is structured in three fundamental parts, totaling 50 hours of intensive and comprehensive learning.

• Part I – Introduction: Opportunities and Challenges in the Information Society (6 hours): The first part of the course will lay the theoretical and practical foundations needed to understand the vital role of law within the Information Society. Participants will be introduced to the ‘strange new world’ of data science, debunking realities and myths, and will discuss the digital transformation and datification of society.
• Part II – Challenges: Data Access and Its Limits and Vulnerabilities (18 hours): This section will delve into the challenges associated with data access, exploring the tension between two mandates of the Information Society: on the one hand, the need to know and use more and more data; on the other, the need to impose limits to protect personal data, privacy aspirations, and intellectual property rights. Topics covered include cybersecurity, freedom of information, combating misinformation, algorithmic bias, and the importance of data in legal processes, from its creation to application, as well as its use as evidence and as a basis for decisions in both public and private spheres.
• Part III – Challenges: The Digital Society, Rights, and Duties (26 hours): The third part of the course will be dedicated to exploring the emerging rights and duties in the digital society, covering topics such as Big Data, Internet of Things, the right to be forgotten, consumer protection in the digital age, electronic communications, profiling, digital advertising and marketing, and the impact of social networks on societal transformation. This section aims to provide a critical understanding of the legal and ethical dilemmas raised by digitalization and how Law can respond to these challenges, promoting a balance between technological innovation and the protection of individual rights.
• Overview: Throughout the course, participants will be encouraged to critically reflect on how Law can and should adapt to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by the Information Society. Close monitoring of each student is guaranteed, both in the postgraduate sessions and through the discussion forums available on Moodle, which allow anyone to deepen their knowledge at any time.

Evaluation

Active participation in forums (40%) and presentation of a final written assignment (60%).

Fee

• € 1,950
• Early Bird price (until December 19, 2024): € 1,650
• NOVA School of Law Alumni: € 1,750
• 20% discount for institutions enrolling 3 or 4 participants; 30% discount for institutions enrolling 5 or more participants.

Not combinable with the Early Bird Price.