Information Law

Code:

MCI0009

Acronym:

DI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Social Science

Instance: 2016/2017 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Informatics Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Information Science

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCI	17	Plano de estudos oficial	1	-	6	56	162
MHP	7	MHP - Study Plan	1	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The course aims to provide an integrated study of the themes, concepts and fundamental legal concepts under the Right to Information.

In addition to the systematic approach of law applicable to different forms and contents of the information will be dealt with new issues arising from the interaction between information, law and technology, especially in the digital environment.

The aim is to provide students with the essential tools of understanding of Information Law based on examples that might be useful in their future activity, as one of the factors to be considered in development projects of information systems and communication.

Learning outcomes and competences

It is intended that the skills acquired can serve the training path and professional of the students, especially the possibilities that the legislation provides in the access to information and its use, as well as the legal aspects to consider in the use of digital technologies in the treatment and dissemination of information, in a multitude of applications and functions.

Students acquire essential skills to:

- take advantage of the mechanisms that the law provides for access by citizens and enterprises to pubic administration documents;

-know the possibilities offered by the digital world, according to the existing legal framework for the use of documents and other information materials in his career;

-fit in different areas and implement the rules concerning the protection of personal data and privacy, especially in the digital environment;

- apply the rules of copyright and related rights in projects or professional training;

-know the interactions between the legal regimes of the right information and the right of communication and the limits of freedom of expression and the public use of the information;

-know the national and European sanctions regime on cybercrime;

-have access to the most advanced legislative options, including using concrete examples and cases already decided by the Portuguese courts and the European Court of Human Rights;

- In addition to the rules and procedures under national law, students get still with a view of the European and international context.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Global aspects of the Information Society (IS) - the concepts and interaction with the law. 

The information law and the Information Society 

International and European frameworkof the information law

 Freedom ofexpression and informationin the global network.Constitutional framework

 The rights, freedoms and guarantees. The freedom to inform and communicate. The Right to get information,be informed andto inform.

 Principles and rules of open administration. Evolution, European and national legislation. The role of the Commission on Access to Administrative Documents.

The rules concerning the access to information in the administrative procedure.

The protection of personal data and privacy. Principles. Comparative law. The EU and national rules. The role of the National Commission for Data Protection. The different applications. ICT and the protection of personal data.

Information law, copyright and related rights.

Right of information and the rules of software, databases protection and domain names. 

Information lawand the right of communication.

The Information law, computer crime and cybercrime.

Security and civil liberties in the use of ICT

Applications and examples.

Mandatory literature

Martins, A. G. Lourenço, Marques, J. A. Garcia ; Direito da Informática, Almedina, Coimbra , 2006
Castro, Catarina Sarmento e ; Direito da Informática, Privacidade e Dados Pessoais, Almedina, Coimbra , 2005
Gonçalves, Maria Eduarda; Direito da Informação - Novos Direitos e Formas de Regulação na Sociedade da Informação, Almedina, Coimbra , 2003

Complementary Bibliography

Condesso, Fernando Reis ; Direito da Comunicação Social, Almedina, Coimbra
Barney, Darin ; The Network Society , Polity Press, 2004
Féral-Schuhl, Christiane ; Cyberdroit, le Droit à l´Épreuve de l´Internet, Dalloz, 2010

Teaching methods and learning activities

The classes will be devoted to a theoretical understanding of the principles and rules of law and a practical part that will be presented and solved case studies, inspired by real life situations

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Prova oral	20,00
Teste	30,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Conclusion of the three tests. Minimum grade of40% in any of thecomponents.

Calculation formula of final grade

Tests – 30%

Final workandoral exam–70%

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

The student workers must make two of the three planned tests 

Classification improvement

It is possible to improve the note of the final work