Privacy and Security
Objectives
This course is composed of two parts, the second one coming as a specification of the issues discussed in the first one. The first part aims to provide an overview of the main issues at stake within the balance between privacy and security, namely, to analyse the concept of privacy and the main forms of digital surveillance for purposes related to national security and the maintenance of public order. This analysis will be carried out considering relevant caselaw in Europe, especially the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union. The second part will specifically consider some mechanisms of State surveillance (facial recognition, metadata, internet of things, digital profiling) and critically assess their legal framework in light of the norms in place in Europe.
General characterization
Code
36120
Credits
6
Responsible teacher
VERA LÚCIA RAPOSO
Hours
Weekly - 3
Total - 36
Teaching language
English
Prerequisites
Not Applicable
Bibliography
Degli Esposti, S., Ball, K. and Dibb, S. (2021), What's In It For Us? Benevolence, National Security, and Digital Surveillance. Public Admin Rev, 81: 862-873. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13362
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and Council of Europe, 2018. Handbook on EU Data Protection Law. Available at https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2018/handbook-european-data-protection-law-2018-edition
Humble, Kristian P. (2021). "International law, surveillance and the protection of privacy". The International Journal of Human Rights, 25:1, 1-25, Doi:10.1080/13642987.2020.1763315
Raposo, Vera Lúcia (2022). "The Use of Facial Recognition Technology by Law Enforcement in Europe: A Non-Orwellian Draft Proposal". Eur J Crim Policy Res, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-022-09512-y
Raposo, Vera Lúcia (2021). "Big Brother Knows That You Are Infected: Wearable Devices to Track Potential COVID-19 Infections" Journal of Law, Innovation and Technology, 13(2), 422-438, Doi: 10.1080/17579961.2021.1977214
Violante, Teresa, "How the Data Retention Legislation Led to a National Constitutional Crisis in Portugal", VerfBlog, 2022/6/09. Available at https://verfassungsblog.de/how-the-data-retention-legislation-led-to-a-national-constitutional-crisis-in-portugal/, DOI: 10.17176/20220610-032725-0.
Caselaw:
Digital Rights Ireland Ltd v. Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Others and Kärntner Landesregierung and Others (2014) CJEU [GC] Joined cases C-293/12 and C-594/12, ECLI:EU:C:2014:238
Schrems v Data Protection Commissioner (2015) CJEU Case C-362/14, ECLI:EU:C:2015:650
Tele2 Sverige AB v Post- och telestyrelsen and Secretary of State for the Home Department v Tom Watson and Others (2016) CJEU, Joined Cases C-203/15 and C-698/15, ECLI:EU:C:2016:970
Schrems and Facebook Ireland v Data Protection Commissioner (2020) CJEU Case C-311/18, ECLI:EU:C:2020:559
Privacy International v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Others (2020), CJEU, C-623/17, ECLI:EU:C:2020:790
La Quadrature du Net and Others v Premier ministre and Others (2020), CJEU, C-511/18, ECLI:EU:C:2020:791
Criminal proceedings against H. K. (2021), CJEU, C-746/18, ECLI:EU:C:2021:152
Note: Additional case law and references might be indicated throughout the course.
Teaching method
The course is structured in sessions that combine theoretical exposition with the practical solution of life cases and with the debate of controversial issues.
The teaching materials include not only the indicated references but also short videos that will be integrated to streamline the classes and give them a more practical content.
Evaluation method
The evaluation can be carried out in two ways:
i) Final assessment: Final exam, with consultation of all materials
and/or
ii) Ongoing assessment:
(a) Participation in classes - 30%
(b) Written report, to be presented at the end of the semester, on an issue to be previously agreed with the professor, between 3000 and 4000 words (not counting bibliographic references) - 70%
Subject matter
1.Privacy in a world of digital surveillance
1.1.Concept of privacy
1.2.Legal framework for digital surveillance
1.3.National security and privacy
1.4.Analysis of specific legal frameworks (EU, Council of Europe, UN)
2.Specific forms of surveillance
2.1.Facial recognition
2.2.Metadata
2.3.Internet of things
2.4.Profiling