JUS5630 – Privacy and Data Protection
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course studies legal rules on data protection — i.e., a set of norms that specifically govern the processing of data relating to persons (personal data) in order to protect, at least partly, the privacy and related interests of those persons.
Outside Europe, such norms are often described in terms of protecting “privacy”, “information privacy”, or, increasingly, “data privacy”. The main focus of the course is on European data protection law, primarily the European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679), Article 8 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Article 7 and 8 of the the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, along with case law pursuant to these instruments. Special attention is given to the core principles of data protection law, along with rules on "data protection by design" and automated decision making.
For students enrolled in Rettsvitenskap (jus) (master – 5 ?r): Have you considered a specialization as part of your degree? The course is part of the profiles Jus og teknologi, Marked, innovasjon og konkurranse and Individvern, rettsstat og velferd.
Learning outcome
The primary aim of the course is to facilitate a solid understanding of legal policies on privacy and data protection, particularly in the context of distributed computer networks such as the Internet. More specifically, the course seeks to illuminate the rationale and regulatory logic of such policies along with the various technological challenges that they face.
The course seeks also to illuminate legal-regulatory issues related to the increasing automatisation of decision-making processes, the increasingly cross-national character of organisational transactions, and the interaction of legal norms with the regulatory effects of information and communications technology.
A further aim of the course is not just to impart knowledge of the relevant legal rules as they currently stand but also to encourage critical appraisal of them. This involves analysing and challenging the assumptions upon which the rules are based, and discussion of alternative regulatory possibilities.
The principal learning outcome of the course is a firm understanding of the basic rules and principles for protecting privacy and personal information, particularly as laid down in EU and other international instruments. One gains also insight into the myriad regulatory challenges in the field. Further, one learns about the potential for technological development to both threaten and enhance privacy and data protection.
Admission
You may register for this course if you have admission to a Master’s programme at UiO or the faculty's exchange programme. You can also register for this course if you do not have admission to any programme at UiO, but meet the formal prerequistites.
All students are required meet the formal prerequistites.
Have you met the formal prerequisites at another institution than the University of Oslo, and the results are not formally registered at UiO, you must apply for admission to courses at Master’s level . Students with admission to Master’s degree programmes at other faculties than The Faculty of Law must also apply for admission.
When your admission is in order you must register for courses in StudentWeb
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students must fill one of these requirements:
- Passed 1st - 3rd year of the 5-years degree Master of Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) (or exams that qualify for exemption for these) or
- Hold a 5-years Master’s degree in Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) or equivalent.
Exemptions from the formal prerequisites will be given to students with admission to the faculty's own exchange or master’s degree programmes. This rule does not apply to students with admission to other master’s degree programmes at the University of Oslo, unless otherwise agreed.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with JUR1630 – Privacy, Data Protection and Lex Informatica (BA)
- 10 credits overlap with VALPRIV – Privacy, Data Protection and Lex Informatica (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUXPRIV – Privacy, Data Protection and Lex Informatica (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUTPRIV – Privacy, Data Protection and Lex Informatica (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with ICTLPRIV – Privacy, Data Protection and Lex Informatica (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUR5630 – Privacy, Data Protection and Lex Informatica (discontinued)
Teaching
Lectures, 20 hours.
Language of teaching
Language of teaching for this course is English. This means that all communication during lectures/seminars will be in English, and all literature and auxiliary materials are in English.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
4 hour written open book digital school examination
Examination support material
This is an open book digital school examination. You are permitted to use any materials written on paper during the examination. This includes books, lecture materials and your own notes, whether handwritten or printed. There are no restrictions on marking up or highlighting these written materials. Printouts/notes from Lovdata are allowed.
No electronic support materials are allowed. Lovdata Pro will be closed for all students during the 4 hour school exam.
General rules on exam support materials
Use of sources and rules for citing
Familiarize yourself with the use of sources and citations in legal writing. In an exam situation, using other people’s material without declaring it in a clear manner may be considered cheating or an attempt at cheating. You must cite any sources you draw on.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Marking criteria
This guide is used by examiners for grading this course.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Resitting an examination.
- There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take this exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Other
The language for this course is English. Students enrolled in the
Masterprogrammet i rettsvitenskap must pass one
English subject as part of their degree, this course will meet these
obligations.
This subject is taught at Master 's level. The subject is also taught at Bachelor's level (10 ECTS credits), see JUR1630 – Privacy, Data Protection and Lex Informatica (BA). Please see the chapter above, regarding overlap. For instances of overlap, credits will be deducted on the subject at Bachelors's level.