The online world has transformed the nature of criminal activity. It has created new opportunities for offending, made criminal conduct harder to detect, altered how law enforcement investigates crime, and challenged traditional assumptions about what conduct should be treated as criminal.
This course explores these issues and more. No prior knowledge of cybercrime or technology is required. We will begin with foundational concepts before moving into a more advanced study of cyber-related criminal law and procedure. Topics will include substantive offences that regulate online conduct, digital privacy and policing, online speech, cryptocurrency, encryption, biometric searches, deepfake technology, and other emerging issues at the intersection of criminal law and technology.
Method of Evaluation:
Case Studies: 10%
Each week the instructor will post short case studies or fact patterns that touch upon the issues raised by the week’s readings. Students will pick three (x3) case studies over the course of the semester and submit a single paragraph response to each. Students will receive full marks for completing the assignment as prescribed. The answers will not be graded for accuracy, substance, or form.
Final Exam: 90%
Open book. Students may rely upon any material that they like.
Case Comment or Presentation (Optional): 30%
Students who wish to reduce the weight of their final exam to 60% can choose to present or prepare a short piece of legal commentary on a relevant topic or case of their choice. The maximum length of the paper is three single-spaced pages, excluding footnotes. The length of the presentation is a maximum of 15 minutes. Students can select the option that they prefer, although do not have to do either.