96872 - REGULATION OF DIGITAL MARKETS

Learning outcomes

The aim of the module is to introduce and critically assess the innovations brought by digitalisation and the resulting markets. In recent years technological innovation has brought many changes in markets for goods and services with a strong impact of on public and private decision-making processes, business models, and market structures. This is an interdisciplinary module on the legal, economic, policy and regulatory issues faced by the regulatory authorities, market players and policy makers in the electronic communications sector and the digital world. The module reflects on the main issues of digital markets and the complex relationship between existing rules and new technologies. In order to allow students to enjoy a full understanding of the challenges of regulation in the technological realm, the first part of the module will look at the role and rationales for market regulation. Thereafter, the module will present sectoral analyses of the core issues (e.g. data protection and the GDPR, legal and regulatory issues raised by artificial Intelligence, big data, cloud computing, security and blockchain technology)

Course contents

Indicative areas covered include:

1) The first block will introduce the basic concepts, theories and principles of regulation, with particular reference to the regulatory strategies and challenges posed to policy and law makers by innovation and technologies.

2) The second block aims at providing an understanding of the impact of new technologies on markets and their regulation. In particular, it will explore the opportunities and the risks presented by digital technologies in various markets and their ensuing regulation. A pervasive feature of digital technologies is the use of personal data: Therefore, the module will study the latest generation of data protection laws presented by the General Data Protection Regulation, showcasing comparative perspective with models offered in other jurisdictions (e.g. the US).

 

Indicative content

- Introduction
- The Law and the Digital Single Market
- The Single European Data Space
- Data Law: Data Ownership or Control?
- Privacy and Data Protection
- The GDPR
- EU data protection and the relationship between the EU and third countries
- The Digital Markets Act
- The Digital Services Act
- Intellectual Property and digital markets
- Case studies

 

Readings/Bibliography

Texts and materials suggested or provided in class

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars, group readings, class and/or individual presentations

Assessment methods

Written dissertation and oral presentation in class

Mark descriptors:

• <18 insufficient - not pass

• 18-23 pass, sufficient

• 24-27 pass, good

• 28-30 pass, very good

• 30 cum laude pass, excellent

Teaching tools

PowerPoint, informative/reading material

Office hours

See the website of Federico Ferretti