Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:10
The course examines the regulation of biometric data and profiling in the European Union and the United Kingdom, focusing on striking a balance between technological development and regulatory processes. It begins with an in-depth exploration of biometrics and profiling within the legal framework of data protection and anti-discrimination laws, particularly the EU GDPR and the EU AI Act, and applies a comparative method to analyse the 2018 Data Protection Act (DPA). The course also addresses the ethical, social, and human rights aspects of biometric technology, aiming to foster innovative legal thinking to resolve the "privacy paradox."
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Biometric and profiling technology has greatly impacted society: it makes human lives easier by enabling biometric identification for security reasons, seamless identity verification, and personalised user experiences. However, it also has significant downsides. Identity theft, unlawful surveillance, and algorithmic discrimination are just some of them. What makes society especially vulnerable, particularly consumers and citizens, is the general acceptance of sharing our biometric data — information related to our physical, physiological, and behavioural characteristics — on social networks, smartphone applications, public spaces, and other platforms. This data-sharing can have severe implications for our freedoms and privacy. This course will explore these implications and what lawyers can and should do in terms of the regulation of biometric data.
Students in this course will explore and analyse the development of the technology for collecting, storing, and processing our biometric data, and the parallel development of regulations governing these processes. They will examine the role played by law in the protection of society along with learning about the benefits of biometric systems and profiling, their technological challenges, and the social and ethical issues stemming from their use. The main discussion revolves around finding a way to strike the right balance in regulating this sector.
Each year, the course begins with an in-depth exploration of biometrics and profiling within the legal framework of data protection and anti-discrimination laws, with a specific focus on the EU GDPR and the EU AI Act. This is followed by an examination of artificial intelligence and biometrics, delving into the legal implications and regulatory challenges. A comparative method is applied to analyse the 2018 Data Protection Act (DPA).
In addition to those seminars, the course incorporates the latest technological developments while maintaining its focus on biometrics and profiling. It typically covers topics such as:
- Face recognition,
- Emotion detection technology,
- Neurodata and neurotechnology,
- (Biometric) online profiling, and
- Social scoring systems.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 70 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 30 | Feedback Weeks | 33 | |
| Feedback |
3 hour Online Exam |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | To develop a critical understanding of how regulators, legislators, and national courts approach the notion and regulation of biometric data and the enforcement of the respective rights and freedoms |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To gain knowledge and understanding of the regulation of all special categories of personal data, with emphasis on biometric data. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To develop a critical understanding of the approach of the European Court for Human Rights to the enforcement of the right to privacy. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To analyse and evaluate the role of the legislators, regulators and courts in the exercise of the regulation of biometric data and the relation to the social and practical implications of the tech. |
| Reflection | Create | To communicate orally and in writing information, advice and choices in an effective manner. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 35 | Feedback Weeks | 38 | |
| Feedback |
The feedback will be provided online within three weeks of submission. |
Word Count | 2000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | To gain knowledge and understanding of the regulation of all special categories of personal data, with emphasis on biometric data. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To develop a critical understanding of the approach of the European Court for Human Rights to the enforcement of the right to privacy. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To develop a critical understanding of how regulators, legislators, and national courts approach the notion and regulation of biometric data and the enforcement of the respective rights and freedoms |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To analyse and evaluate the role of the legislators, regulators and courts in the exercise of the regulation of biometric data and the relation to the social and practical implications of the tech. |
| Reflection | Create | To communicate orally and in writing information, advice and choices in an effective manner. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To analyse and evaluate the role of the legislators, regulators and courts in the exercise of the regulation of biometric data and the relation to the social and practical implications of the tech. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To gain knowledge and understanding of the regulation of all special categories of personal data, with emphasis on biometric data. |
| Reflection | Create | To communicate orally and in writing information, advice and choices in an effective manner. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To develop a critical understanding of how regulators, legislators, and national courts approach the notion and regulation of biometric data and the enforcement of the respective rights and freedoms |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To develop a critical understanding of the approach of the European Court for Human Rights to the enforcement of the right to privacy. |
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