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Foundations · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Online Media Law & Ethics

The internet is not a lawless frontier. This critical course navigates the complex legal and ethical frameworks governing digital content. Students will explore the tension between Free Speech and Hate Speech, the mechanics of Defamation in the age of Twitter, and the complexities of Intellectual Property (Copyright) in remix culture. The curriculum also addresses emerging ethical dilemmas like doxxing, AI authorship, and data privacy.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Analyze the legal definitions of Libel, Slander, and Defamation online
  2. Navigate Intellectual Property laws: Copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons
  3. Understand Data Privacy regulations (GDPR/CCPA) and user rights
  4. Critique the ethics of algorithmic curation and "Shadowbanning"
  5. Evaluate the legal responsibilities of platforms vs. publishers (Section 230 context)
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01Foundations of Media Law: Free Speech
  2. 02Defamation 101: Libel vs. Slander
  3. 03Online Defamation: Retweets & Reposts
  4. 04Privacy Law: Public vs. Private Figures
  5. 05The Right to be Forgotten
  6. 06Hate Speech vs. Free Speech Online
  7. 07Platform Regulation: Publisher vs. Platform
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Intellectual Property: Copyright in the Digital Age
  10. 10Fair Use & Remix Culture
  11. 11Cybercrime Laws: Hacking & Phishing
  12. 12Ethics of Data: Surveillance Capitalism
  13. 13Ethics of AI: Who owns the output?
  14. 14Doxxing, Trolling, & Online Harassment
  15. 15Whistleblowers & Source Protection
  16. 16Final Project: The Legal Case Analysis

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Legal Case Analysis

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Electronic Media Law and Regulation by Kenneth C. Creech
  2. Cyber Law in Pakistan (or relevant local statute guide) by M. Azam Chaudhry
  3. Media Ethics: Issues and Cases by Philip Patterson and Lee Wilkins
  4. The Right to Privacy by Samuel Warren and Louis Brandeis
  5. Copyright's Highway by Paul Goldstein
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