Course Syllabus

Law and Policy Issues in Computer Science

NOTE: Readings are available here.

Goal of the Course: This course will introduce computer science students to the ways law and policy intersects with their field. As computing technology impacts so many aspects of our lives, important conversations have started taking place about when and how to regulate this technology. This course was created in an effort to help computer scientists influence these conversations for the better.

Course Description: This course will explore the intersection of public policy and computing technology. After a basic overview of the US legal system and administrative state, the course will examine the ways computing technology is regulated in areas such as privacy, crime, intellectual property, commerce, and national security. Students in the course will complete a series of technical projects related to legal issues, including scrutinizing digital rights management technology, evaluating digital forensics reports and expert testimony, and critiquing software patents. Students will also be expected to regularly read and respond to excerpts from relevant legal cases. Topics covered in the course will include Fourth and Fifth Amendment protections in cyberspace, network neutrality, antitrust, Section 230, cryptocurrency and digital property, espionage, and cyberwarfare.

Course Staff

Instructor: Ryan Cunningham
Office: 2211 Siebel Center
Email: rcunnin2@illinois.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 5-6pm

Teaching Assistant: Richard Barber
Email: barber5@illinois.edu

Grading

Criterion	Percentage
Course Participation	20%
Course Projects	30%
Midterm Exam	20%
Final Exam	30%

Course Participation: You will be expected to come prepared to every lecture ready to discuss the readings. The instructor might call on you for basic information about them. You should be ready to answer. Being unprepared when called on will be marked as an absence. Note: Please don't be afraid I'll try to stump you or trick you or embarrass you. This is not that kind of class.

Course Projects: There will be 3 or 4 course projects over the course of the semester that will require applying both technical knowledge and law and policy knowledge. These projects can be completed in small groups (2-3 students) or individually.

Midterm: There will be a midterm in class on October 7th that will cover both the readings and lecture material.

Final: There will be a comprehensive final exam during finals week that will cover both the readings and lecture material. The final exam will be scheduled by the university.

4-Credit Option

If you've signed up for the four credit version of this course, you will have two additional responsibilities this semester. The previous requirements will make up 75% of your grade. The following will make up the remaining 25%. These will both be due by the end of the semester, but I don't recommend waiting until the last minute.

Courtroom Observations

Law and Policy Review Paper

You will write an extensive (approximately 15 page) review of an area of tech law and policy of your choice. Get approval for your topic before you go too deep on your research. You should review relevant written laws, case law, legislative proposals, policy white papers, and legal scholarship. You're also welcome to read and review relevant books.

Textbooks

• Carper, Donald, and John McKinsey. Understanding the law, 7th ed. Nelson Education, 2014.
• Grimmelmann, James. Internet law: Cases and problems, 10th ed. Semaphore Press, 2020.
• Hildebrandt, Mireille. Law for Computer Scientists and Other Folk. Oxford University Press, 2020. This textbook could help supplement your understanding of course topics, but I've decided to replace it with more case law.

Policies

Absences

Excused absences include things like illness, or personal emergencies or tragedies. Job interviews or other scheduled events are not considered excused absences. You are expected to manage your own calendar.

If you need an excused absence, please email course staff as soon as possible. If you are sick, please take it seriously and take your time recovering. Excused absences can be made up during office hours.

Late Assignments

Late assignments will only be accepted for excused absences. No other late assignments will be accepted. If you miss the deadline, your assignment will receive no credit. Submit before the deadline!

COVID-19

Following University policy, all students are required to engage in appropriate behavior to protect the health and safety of the community, including wearing a facial covering properly, maintaining social distance (at least 6 feet from others at all times), disinfecting the immediate seating area, and using hand sanitizer. Students are required to follow all campus COVID-19 protocols.

Students who feel ill must not come to class. In addition, students who test positive for COVID-19 or have had an exposure that requires testing and/or quarantine must not attend class. The University will provide information to the instructor, in a manner that complies with privacy laws, about students in these latter categories. These students are judged to have excused absences for the class period and should contact the instructor via email about making up the work.

Students who fail to abide by these rules will first be asked to comply; if they refuse, they will be required to leave the classroom immediately. If a student is asked to leave the classroom, the non-compliant student will be judged to have an unexcused absence and reported to the Office for Student Conflict Resolution for disciplinary action. Accumulation of non-compliance complaints against a student may result in dismissal from the University.

Academic Integrity

We take academic honesty very seriously. Your work in this class will be checked for signs of plagiarism. Please review and reflect on the academic integrity policy of the University of Illinois, to which we subscribe. By submitting assignments in this class under your name, you are presenting all of the contents as your own independent work.

If you use someone else’s ideas or quote someone, all we ask is that you give proper acknowledgement using the style of your choice. If you fail to do this, you are committing plagiarism, a form of academic dishonesty. If you are not absolutely clear on what constitutes plagiarism and how to cite sources appropriately, now is the time to learn. Don't hesitate to ask.

Please be aware that the consequences for plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty will be severe. Students who violate university standards of academic integrity are subject to disciplinary action, including a reduced grade, failure in the course, and suspension or dismissal from the University.

Mental Health

Diminished mental health, including significant stress, mood changes, excessive worry, substance/alcohol abuse, or problems with eating and/or sleeping can interfere with optimal academic performance, social development, and emotional well-being. The University of Illinois offers a variety of confidential services including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, psychiatric services, and specialized screenings at no additional cost. If you or someone you know experiences any of the above mental health concerns, it is strongly encouraged to contact or visit any of the University’s resources provided below. Getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do -- for yourself and for those who care about you.

Counseling Center: 217-333-3704, 610 East John Street Champaign, IL 61820

McKinley Health Center: 217-333-2700, 1109 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801