This course will provide an overview of key areas which are relevant to communications law in Canada with a focus on the regulatory framework relating to telecommunications carriers, broadcasters and the internet. The role of the Government, the CRTC, the Courts and international bodies in shaping that framework will be examined. Later in the course, we will cover topics such as the attempts to regulate markets, anti-spam legislation, net neutrality, privacy, cybersecurity, serving remote areas and law enforcement. In addition, we will look at how regulators might respond to challenges emerging from new issues such as the internet of things, big data, fake news, artificial intelligence and the changing role of social media platforms. Aside from media and communications, this course will touch on issues in administrative law, constitutional law, licensing, competition law, libel, criminal law, consumer protection, elections law, freedom of expression and privacy law - in other words: this course will be of interest to a wide range of students. The course will look historically at how the law in this area has developed, but because the field is continually evolving, there will also be current issues at the time of the course which we will attempt to put in the wider context of the development of the law. The course evaluation will be based on a research paper on an approved topic as well as a group presentation which will take place during the final class.
This course will provide an overview of key areas which are relevant to communications law in Canada with a focus on the regulatory framework relating to telecommunications carriers, broadcasters and the internet. The role of the Government, the CRTC, the Courts and international bodies in shaping that framework will be examined. Later in the course, we will cover topics such as the attempts to regulate markets, anti-spam legislation, net neutrality, privacy, cybersecurity, serving remote areas and law enforcement. In addition, we will look at how regulators might respond to challenges emerging from new issues such as the internet of things, big data, fake news, artificial intelligence and the changing role of social media platforms. Aside from media and communications, this course will touch on issues in administrative law, constitutional law, licensing, competition law, libel, criminal law, consumer protection, elections law, freedom of expression and privacy law - in other words: this course will be of interest to a wide range of students. The course will look historically at how the law in this area has developed, but because the field is continually evolving, there will also be current issues at the time of the course which we will attempt to put in the wider context of the development of the law. The course evaluation will be based on a research paper on an approved topic as well as a group presentation which will take place during the final class.
