LLAW 3110
Human rights and cyberspace (6 credits)
The exponential growth of the Internet and World-wide web provides great opportunities for and poses significant challenges to enjoyment of human rights in many years. This course will examine a number of areas in which the Internet revolution has provided new tools and opportunities for promoting the enjoyment of human rights, as well as for enabling violations of human rights: The use of the Internet for building human rights networks for the dissemination of information and the co-ordination of action at national and international levels. Issues of access to technology, in particular the opportunities for persons with certain disabilities provided by IT developments, the problems of accessibility and the legal obligations of e-service providers to ensure that their services are accessible to persons with disabilities. The use of the Internet for the dissemination of racist material and other forms of offensive material. Cyberstalking and harassment through the Internet. The global dimensions of the Internet: the difference between rich and poor, the issue of language. Gender and the Internet Freedom of expression and the Interent Jurisdictional and substantive law problems in relation to human rights and the Internet. Use of the Internet by non-governmental organisations for building international networks and co-ordinating activism of human rights issues.