Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

Human Rights and Technology (LAW-795HT)聽

In-person (WCL)

8:30 am - 10:20 am

*For students enrolled in the LL.M.聽in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, this course corresponds to 2 academic credits.

Professor:

  • Eduardo Bertoni, Director, Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Washington College of Law, 猫咪社区app University

Course Description:

The goal of the course is to foster discussions that deepen our understanding of the application of human rights standards to both established and emerging technologies.

Technologies developed in the 20th century have significantly impacted everyday life, and human rights have not been exempt from these effects. This is particularly true not only of the rapid evolution of the Internet but also of other emerging technologies. Among the technologies, we anticipate exploring are the Internet, social media platforms, facial recognition systems, artificial intelligence, technologies related to the development of the 鈥渕etaverse鈥 or virtual worlds, and neurotechnologies designed to interact with the human nervous system.

These technologies present regulatory, policy, and development challenges that, depending on their implementation, can either enhance or hinder the enjoyment of human rights as they have been framed since the second half of the 20th century. The course seeks to equip participants with foundational knowledge on how technologies from the late 20th century to the present may impact the exercise of specific human rights, particularly in areas such as freedom of expression, privacy, equality, and criminal justice guarantees. International regulatory approaches that either safeguard or impede the exercise of these rights will be examined. The course is primarily participatory in nature.