Information Privacy Protection

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Level: 
Master's
Course Status: 
Elective
CEU credits: 
2
Academic year: 
2010/2011
Semester: 
Winter
Start and end dates: 
10 Jan 2011 - 1 Apr 2011
Course homepage: 
Course @ CEU E-learning center
Co-hosting Unit(s) [if applicable]: 
Department of Public Policy
Academic Program: 
Master of Arts in Public Policy
Master of Arts in Economics
Master of Arts in Law and Economics
Stream/Track/Specialization/Core Area: 
Media, Information and Communication Policy Specialization
CEU Instructor(s): 
Kristina Irion
Learning Outcomes: 
The course strives to equip participants with a thorough understanding of today’s policies and to enable them for the regulatory challenges of the Information Society. The knowledge on information privacy protection shall equip participants with the ability to conduct independent research in the field and to relate to its inherent inter-disciplinarity. The case sensitive approach will provide students with the ability to apply key concepts of information privacy to real-world situations. Eventually, students’ ability to disseminate knowledge about information privacy to an informed audience will be encouraged.
Assessment : 
The course requirements are (1) preparation, attendance and active participation, (2) a student presentation, and (3) a term paper. The course assessment will result from student’s contributions that are taken into account according to the following shares: 10 % Participation, 30 % Presentation, and 60 % term paper.
Full description: 

The course is dedicated to the policies and regulations of electronic data processing involving personal information. Enhanced computing technology and storage capacity are facilitating an ever increasing appetite for personal information on behalf of businesses and authorities, which ultimately impacts the fundamental right to privacy. Notwithstanding the alarming number of high profile incidents, in which personal data had been compromised, the public awareness seems to be weakening. Besides, legislators are readjusting the equilibrium between national security and electronic privacy. The course will reflect on the latest development and the shift of mentality towards more privacy pervasive technologies.

In the first part, participants will become acquainted with relevant data protection principles and discuss their effectiveness in the light of recent applications. Secondly, technology is not indifferent to public policy objectives, thus design and implementation are key to privacy enhancing technologies. The regulatory treatment of transborder data transfers that surpass the reach of jurisdictions is another problem the course will shed light on. Next, privacy will be looked at from the ankle of an individual right over personal information in the context of publicity, privacy at the workplace and the special problematic of protecting minors’ personal information. The last part is dedicated to legal interception and surveillance of voice and data traffic with a special focus on data retention rules and foreign intelligence gathering. The course is intended to sensitize participant to the state of information privacy protection in the Information Society.

Course website at CEU e-learning center