This module examines the business model and algorithmic techniques of platform/surveillance capitalism. It explores how this business model and algorithmic techniques cause harms to individuals and communities with protected characteristics. Evaluate to what extent UK law adequately addresses these harms. – OSCOLA referencing style – UK law – By “evaluate” what is meant is: based on the relevant lecture content, the required seminar and further readings, and your own independent research of academic sources/scholarship, how valid is the claim UK law adequately addresses harms resulting from platform/surveillance capitalism, its business model, and/or algorithmic techniques. To evaluate is check the extent to which a claim is valid when assessed against current evidence, especially academic scholarship and commentary. – To answer assessment question 2 as an essay, you could focus on: 1. The algorithmic techniques used in platform/surveillance capitalism to acquire and maintain user attention (e.g., choice architecture, recommendation engines, and behaviour modification techniques), the mental health harm they generate, and evaluate (against current authoritative and academic evidence and commentary) the extent to which, for example, the Draft Online Safety Bill addresses this harm. 2. Equally, you could look at one of the key activities of the platform/surveillance business model, which is the acquisition of personal data, and evaluate (against current authoritative and academic evidence) the extent to which data protection and privacy law adequately safeguards the rights of platform users and takes sufficient account of how user-decision-making is influenced by choice architecture and algorithmic techniques. 3. In addition, you could, for example, focus on the extent to which the current law adequately safeguards the rights and interests of communities with protected characteristics (., race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion) as they engage in platform surveillance capitalism. You do not need to cover every characteristic; you can focus on one or two. 4. Finally, you could explore how platform/surveillance capitalism creates challenges concerning who are/should be liable for speech and content produced and circulated on platforms.
