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Law & Tech
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:35:42
Abstract
This course introduces students to legal, economic, and social perspectives on the increasingeconomic and social importance of technology. We focus particularly on the challenges to currentlaw posed by the increasing rate of tech innovation and adoption generally and also by case-specificfeatures of prominent near-future technologies.
Objective
The course is intended for a wide range of engineering students, from machine learning to bioengineering to human computer interaction, as well as for law students interested in acquiring a better understanding of state-of-the-art technology. The course will combine both an overview of major areas of law that affect the regulation of technology and also guest lectures on the state-of-the art in a variety of important technologies, ranging from autonomous vehicles to fair artificial intelligence to consumer-facing DNA technologies. The course is open to ETH students through the Science in Perspective program of the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences.
Content
The planned course outline is below 1. Overview of science, law, and technology a. Studies of law and technology b. Should science be regulated, and if so, how? c. Technology as a social problem 2. Designing technology for humans a. Attention fiduciaries and the digital environment b. Does technology weaponize known problems of bounded human rationality? c. Should technology be regulated as a psychotropic substance? An addictive substance? d. Can technology make life easier? e. Psychological effects of surveillance 3. Governing tech a. Can small governments regulate big tech? b. National and supranational legislation c. Enforcing the law with technology d. Can enforcement be baked into technology? 4. AI and fairness a. Discrimination b. Privacy c. Opacity d. AI and due process 5. Trade secret and technological litigation a. Trade secret is a long-standing tool for litigation but does it enjoy too much deference? b. Trade secrets and the rights of employes 6. Enforcement against tech a. Big tech and antitrust b. Consumer protection 7. The Digital Battlefield a. Technology for spying b. Spying on technology companies c. Race to be AI superpower d. Immigration policy 8. Contract law a. Smart contracts b. Modernizing contract law and practice c. Regulating cryptocurrencies 9. Tort law a. Applying existing tort law to new autonomous technologies b. Personhood and personal responsibility c. Victim entitlements 10. Self-driving cars and other autonomous robotics a. Legal regimes b. Diversity in morality judgements related to autonomous vehicles 11. Biometrics a. Widespread use of facial recognition b. Law enforcement c. Connecting biometrics to social data d. Solving crimes with biometrics 12. New Biology and Medicine a. Unregulated science (biohackers) b. Promising technology before it can be delivered c. Connecting medicine to social data d. Using technology to circumvent medical regulations
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DS , DR
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 30
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar |
Law & Tech
The lecturers will communicate the exact lesson times of ONLINE courses.
|
|
42 h semesterly |
Offered In
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GESS Science in Perspective (Only the topics listed in this paragraph can be chosen as GESS Science in Perspective. Further below you will find the "type B courses Reflections about subject specific methods and content" as well as the language courses. 6 ECTS need to be acquired during the BA and 2 ECTS during the MA Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.)
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Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents (Subject-specific courses: Recommended for doctoral, master and bachelor students (after first-year examination only). Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again. These course units are also listed under "Type A", which basically means all students can enroll)
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Doctoral Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (More Information at: )