Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Course Description Status: Approved

Course Description Version: 25/26.R.2.00

Description Period: 2025./26 academic year rudens semestris

Study Course Accepted: -

Study Course Description

Enforcement and Protection of Human Rights in the Digital Environment

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
JF_210
Branch of Science
Law
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Juridical Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Kristīne Pakārkle
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts

Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv

About Study Course

Objective

To enable students to acquire knowledge of the importance of human rights in the information technology era, to develop skills of formulating problematic issues and solutions thereto, to develop analytical and argumentative skills, as well as to create attitude conducive to the development of the information society and effective enforcement and protection of fundamental human rights in the digital environment.

Preliminary Knowledge

Knowledge of the content of human rights and the methodologies used to limit them, as well as methods of interpretation of legal provisions, application, and conflict resolution.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.The acquired knowledge allows to successfully complete further study courses and serves as a basis for successful solving of a special case.

Skills

1.As a result of completing the study course, the student understands the interaction and interrelation between the use of legal norms and technologies, analysing the conclusions of the practice of applying human rights.

Competences

1.Students can independently solve problems related to the application of law in the information technology era.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work
-
-
Successful completion of this course requires individual and continuous work by the student. One must reckon with spending at least 3 hours of individual and independent work (literature and case law studies, preparation of summaries and other written works, as well as preparation for seminars) per academic class.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination
-
10 points

The final assessment of the study course consists of: 50% – assessment during the study process throughout the semester; and 50% – assessment of the final examination. Two written tests are planned for the study course.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Interaction of human rights and information technology. • Legal and political aspects: the power of information technology and development trends of human rights. • Freedom to use information technology (access / internet access). • Transparency. Protecting human rights in the digital environment: national and international frameworks. • Council of Europe guidelines on human rights in Internet services, Twitter revolution.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Interaction of human rights and information technology. • Legal and political aspects: the power of information technology and development trends of human rights. • Freedom to use information technology (access / internet access). • Transparency. Protecting human rights in the digital environment: national and international frameworks. • Council of Europe guidelines on human rights in Internet services, Twitter revolution.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Digital activism and control of the digital environment. Public duties and responsibilities in the field of the digital environment. The standard of human rights protection in the digital environment. Rights and obligations in the digital environment. Safe digital environment. Ethical considerations in the digital environment.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Digital activism and control of the digital environment. Public duties and responsibilities in the field of the digital environment. The standard of human rights protection in the digital environment. Rights and obligations in the digital environment. Safe digital environment. Ethical considerations in the digital environment.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

The boundaries of applying the right to privacy and the right to respect for correspondence. • Confidentiality and privacy. • Digital data protection. • Respect for correspondence. • Methodology for assessing restrictions.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

The boundaries of applying the right to privacy and the right to respect for correspondence. • Confidentiality and privacy. • Digital data protection. • Respect for correspondence. • Methodology for assessing restrictions.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Freedom of expression and information in the digital environment. • Content of the freedom of expression. • The principle of information transparency. • Blogger rights. • Freedom of the press in the digital environment. • Methodology for assessing restrictions on the freedom of expression.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Freedom of expression and information in the digital environment. • Content of the freedom of expression. • The principle of information transparency. • Blogger rights. • Freedom of the press in the digital environment. • Methodology for assessing restrictions on the freedom of expression.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

A written test work.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

A written test work.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
20 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
PART-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Interaction of human rights and information technology. • Legal and political aspects: the power of information technology and development trends of human rights. • Freedom to use information technology (access / internet access). • Transparency. Protecting human rights in the digital environment: national and international frameworks. • Council of Europe guidelines on human rights in Internet services, Twitter revolution.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Interaction of human rights and information technology. • Legal and political aspects: the power of information technology and development trends of human rights. • Freedom to use information technology (access / internet access). • Transparency. Protecting human rights in the digital environment: national and international frameworks. • Council of Europe guidelines on human rights in Internet services, Twitter revolution.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Digital activism and control of the digital environment. Public duties and responsibilities in the field of the digital environment. The standard of human rights protection in the digital environment. Rights and obligations in the digital environment. Safe digital environment. Ethical considerations in the digital environment.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

The boundaries of applying the right to privacy and the right to respect for correspondence. • Confidentiality and privacy. • Digital data protection. • Respect for correspondence. • Methodology for assessing restrictions.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Freedom of expression and information in the digital environment. • Content of the freedom of expression. • The principle of information transparency. • Blogger rights. • Freedom of the press in the digital environment. • Methodology for assessing restrictions on the freedom of expression.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

A written test work.
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
12 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Eiropas Savienības tiesības. II daļa. Materiālās tiesības. Aut.kol. C.Schewe zin.red. Rīga: TNA, 2016.

2.

Esfandiari, Golnaz. 2010. The twitter revolution.

3.

M. Kēnigs, „Cilvēktiesības”, Tiesu nama aģentūra, 2010.

4.

Schmitz T. Kāzusi un mācību materiāli Eiropas Savienības tiesībās. – Rīga: Tiesu namu aģentūra, 2010.

Additional Reading

1.

Apvienoto Nāciju Organizācijas Starptautiskais pakts par pilsoniskajām un politiskajām tiesībām.

2.

Eiropas Cilvēka tiesību un pamatbrīvību aizsardzības konvencija. Latvijas Vēstnesis, 13.06.1996., Nr. 143.

3.

Latvijas Republikas Satversmes komentāri. VIII nodaļa. Cilvēka pamattiesības. Autoru kolektīvs prof. R.Baloža zin. Vadībā. - Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2011

4.

Benedek/Kettemann, Freedom of Expression on the Internet, Council of Europe, Strasbourg 2012

5.

Kettemann, The Future of Individuals in International Law. Lessons from International Internet Law, Utrecht 2012.

6.

Kettemann, UN Human Rights Council Confirms that Human Rights Apply to the Internet, EJIL Talk, 23 July 2012.

7.

Editorial Board of Pravoye Delo and Shtekel v. Ukraine, (no. 33014/05, 5 May 2011);

8.

Mosley v. the United Kingdom,( no. 48009/08, 10 May 2011);

Other Information Sources

1.

Latvijas Republikas Satversmes tiesas datu bāze

2.

ES Tiesas spriedumu datu bāze