Law and Technology

3 units

This course explores the relationship between law, technology, and society. It challenges common assumptions—such as the idea that technology inherently promotes democracy or that it defies regulation due to its rapid pace or global reach. The course reexamines these premises through historical and theoretical lenses. Students will engage with case studies drawn from a range of information and infrastructural technologies—including the postal system, telegraph, film industry, radio, social media, and ride-sharing platforms—to develop a deeper understanding of how legal frameworks respond to and influence technological change. Common topics of discussion will include free speech, privacy, sexuality, and the governance of new technologies. Students will be assessed based on one or more short papers and/or an exam, depending on enrollment. The form of the assessment will appear in the course syllabus prior to the start of the semester.