The module: EU Data Law

The purpose of the Module ‘EU Data Law’ is to bring together the regulation of data and the different facets that characterise their uses and needs. Not only does personal data need protection, but access and sharing of personal and non-personal data have become essential for digital markets and innovation. Ethical aspects surrounding data are also included.

The module provides students with essential knowledge about the theoretical rationales and policy arguments for the regulation of data. Data regulation is a pervasive issue affecting most sectors. Therefore, the module is suitable for students of all disciplines across the University.

The study of ‘EU Data Law’ provides students with an advanced critical understanding of the legal and ethical issues surrounding data and the role played by the EU's ongoing regulation of the digital transformation.

The foreseeable non-law students’ gaps in the basic notions of EU law are compensated by a cycle of teaching sessions dealing with the sources of EU law, EU institutional architecture, and the fundamentals of EU market regulation.

In addition, the module offers side specialised seminars addressing specific and in-depth issues/topics or case studies.

Course structure

Introduction: The Fundamentals of EU Law 

Structure, sources of law, the EU institutions, fundamental principles, the Internal Market and the fundamental freedoms.

EU Data Law 

Generally, the module covers the following areas:

Data Protection and the GDPR: historical and social origins of privacy and data protection; concepts of privacy and basic principles of privacy law; concept of data protection and basic principles of EU data protection law (GDPR); nature and scope of such rights; procedures for the granting and recognition of the rights (supervision and enforcement); EU data protection and the relationship between the EU and third countries.

Data Markets and Data-Related Rights: the emergence of data markets; the nature and value chain of data; data-related rights; data control and ownership; the regulation of non-personal data; intellectual property laws; data as essential facilities and competition law, gatekeeping.

Data Access and Sharing: the Data Act: the EU Data Strategy; the Data Governance Act; the Data Act; key provisions.

Specialised side seminars

The Team Members are scholars specialised in diverse aspects of datafication and digitalisation. Francesca Mattassoglio is an expert in financial data-driven technologies and crypto-assets; Zeynep Ayata is an expert in consumer protection and covers key aspects of the relationship between consumer law, data protection, and data law; Anna Ubaydullaeva is an expert in Intellectual Property and IT and covers several aspects of the relationship and coordination between data law and IP law; Peter Petkoff is an expert in ethics and will address the ethical side of datafication and regulation.

Assessment

The Module is assessed as follows: an examination test aimed at demonstrating knowledge and understanding of Data Protection Law (50%); a written research essay (coursework) aimed at demonstrating research skills and the ability to write cogent arguments on a title relating to data-related rights or the Data Act (50%).