Formation/Cours

This graduate-level course, focuses on European Union (EU) digital policies within the context of the profound challenges posed by digitalization. As stated by Commission President von der Leyen, these challenges are paramount, impacting all aspects of society, the economy, and public administration, regardless of geographical location or profession. This course zooms in on the digitalization of society, economy, and public administration. Digitalization is fundamentally transforming the ways we work, reside, travel, consume, communicate, and stay informed, presenting both promises and threats of ushering in profound changes.

In response to these challenges, the EU has implemented a range of policies and initiatives. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) aims to counter ‘surveillance capitalism’ and establish EU law as the global gold standard for data protection. Simultaneously, the Digital Services and Markets Acts are designed to regulate and control the influence of Big Tech. Throughout this course, we will scrutinize the intricacies of the EU’s digital policies, examining how these legislative measures align with the evolving landscape of digitalization. This course aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of EU digital policies while exploring and comparing them with key global players, including the UK, the US, China, and India.

Starting with an exploration of how the EU functions, we will delve into recent political science research that sheds light on the challenges posed by digitalization and how the EU responds to them. The course will navigate through the evolution of EU digital policies, major legislative developments, and comparative analyses of regulatory models. The structure of the course will be based on eight sessions, each lasting two hours, with the final session dedicated to student presentations and a comprehensive wrap-up. The course offers a platform to critically analyze and discuss the implications of EU digital policies in the broader context of societal, economic, and administrative transformations. By the end of the course, students will have gained insights into the intersection of digitalization and EU policies, developing a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics shaping our contemporary world.

Course Schedule (All Dates Could Be Subject to Change)

1. Session 1: Course Introduction and Overview of EU Digital Policies (24/01/24, 11am- 1pm)

– Introduction to the course, objectives, and expectations

– Overview of the syllabus and assignments

– Cross-time overview of EU policies in the ICT and digital sector

Compulsory reading: No readings for this session

Suggested reading: Marcut, M. (2020). The Governance of Digital Policies: Towards a New Competence in the European Union. Springer Nature, pp. 65-122.

Session 2: The European Rights-Driven Regulatory Model (31/01/24, 11am- 1pm)

– Analysis of the EU’s rights-driven approach to digital regulation

– Examination of key principles and legal frameworks

– Case studies illustrating the rights-driven model

Compulsory reading 1: Bradford, A. (2020) The Brussels effect: How the European Union rules the world. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Chapter 5. Digital Economy, pp. 131-170.

Session 3: Europe Fit for the Digital Age & 2030 Decade Program (07/02/24, 11am- 1pm)

– Overview of the “Europe Fit for the Digital Age” initiative

– Analysis of the 2030 Decade Program

– Examination of main EU institutions involved in the legislative process

Compulsory reading 2: Gorwa, R. (2019). What Is Platform Governance? Information, Communication & Society 22 (6): 854-871. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2019.1573914.

Session 4: 2019-24 Regulatory Wave – Privacy, Data Governance, and Online Content (14/02/24, 11am- 1pm)

– In-depth analysis of recent legislative developments in privacy and data governance

– Examination of online content regulations (DSA, DMA)

– Case studies on the impact of these regulations on businesses and individuals

Compulsory reading 3: Woojeong J. and. Newman A. L. (2022). “Enforcing European Privacy Regulations from Below: Transnational Fire Alarms and the General Data Protection Regulation.” JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 60 (2): 283–300.

Session 5: 2019-24 Regulatory Wave – AI and Cybersecurity (06/03/24, 11am- 1pm)

– Comprehensive review of recent legislation on AI in the EU

– Analysis of cybersecurity regulations and strategies

– Case studies on the implications of AI and cybersecurity regulations

Compulsory reading 4: Farrand, B., & Carrapico, H. (2022). Digital sovereignty and taking back control: from regulatory capitalism to regulatory mercantilism in EU cybersecurity. European security, 31(3), 435-453.

Session 6: Comparative Analysis – Chinese State-Driven vs. US Market-Driven Regulatory Models (14/03/24, 2pm – 4pm)

– In-depth comparison of regulatory models in China and the US

– Examination of state-driven vs. market-driven approaches

– Case studies illustrating the strengths and weaknesses of each model

Compulsory reading 5: Bradford, A. (2023). Digital empires: The global battle to regulate technology. Oxford University Press, chapter 4. Between Freedom and Control: Navigating Competing Regularity Models, pp.149-182.

Session 7: Guest Lecture #1 – Global Regulatory Models: the case of UK digital legislation (Sarah Ledoux, University of Manchester) (20/03/24, 11am- 1pm)

– Invited expert discusses emerging challenges within the EU’s regulatory framework

– Q&A session with students for further exploration of the challenges

Compulsory reading 6: Roberts, H., Cowls, J., Hine, E., Morley, J., Wang, V., Taddeo, M., & Floridi, L. (2023). Governing artificial intelligence in China and th